Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

Devanagari script

अनलंकृतमात्मानन्दर्शयेन्न क्वचिच्छिवे । कार्यार्थम्प्रोषिते तस्मिन्भवेन्मण्डनवर्जिता

Transliteration

analaṃkṛtamātmānandarśayenna kvacicchive | kāryārthamproṣite tasminbhavenmaṇḍanavarjitā

Translation

يا شيفَا (بارفتي)، إذا مضى الزوجُ لأداء واجبٍ ما، فلا ينبغي للزوجة الفاضلة أن تُظهر نفسها في أي موضعٍ متزيّنة؛ بل تمكث بلا حُلِيّ ولا زينة.

Word by Word

• अनलङ्कृतम्: unadorned
• अनलङ्कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्- (नञ्) + अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; अलङ्कृ धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (unadorned)

• आत्मानम्: herself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• दर्शयेत्: she should show
• दर्शयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: make see/show)

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• क्वचित्: anywhere/ever
• क्वचित्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: anywhere/ever)

• शिवे: O Śiva
• शिवे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे सप्तमी (vocative-like locative: ‘O Śiva’)

• कार्य-अर्थम्: for a task/purpose
• कार्य-अर्थम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘कार्यस्य अर्थम्’ (for the sake of work)

• प्रोषिते: when (he is) away
• प्रोषिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रोषित (कृदन्त; प्र-उष्/वस् धातोः क्त; ‘gone away/absent’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘(when he is) away’

• तस्मिन्: in that (time/condition)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भवेत्: she should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मण्डन-वर्जिता: devoid of ornamentation
• मण्डन-वर्जिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मण्डन (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त; वर्ज् धातोः क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मण्डनं वर्जिता’ (devoid of adornment)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches self-restraint and modesty as a form of dharma: reducing outward display supports inner steadiness (niyama) and protects the mind from distraction—qualities praised in Shaiva life as supportive of bhakti and purity.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Saguna Shiva worship emphasizes disciplined conduct alongside devotion; simplicity and restraint (especially during times of separation and vulnerability) are presented as practical supports for maintaining a Shiva-centered life and avoiding lapses in dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is adopting austerity-like simplicity—minimizing adornment and cultivating inward focus—paired with steady remembrance of Shiva (e.g., quiet japa of the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), even though the verse itself is about conduct rather than a specific rite.