Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

मुकुटादिमहाभूषः प्रसन्नमुखपंकजः । कोटिकंदर्पसंकाशस्सन्दष्टो मोहितेन सः

Transliteration

mukuṭādimahābhūṣaḥ prasannamukhapaṃkajaḥ | koṭikaṃdarpasaṃkāśassandaṣṭo mohitena saḥ

Translation

كان متوَّجًا ومتحلّيًا بحُلًى عظيمة بهيّة، ووجهه كزهرة اللوتس يشرق بالسكينة. وكان يتلألأ بجمالٍ كجمال ملايين من كاما-ديفا؛ ومن رآه أُخِذَ وأُسِرَ، مغلوبًا بالدهشة والسِّحر.

Word by Word

• मुकुट-आदि-महा-भूषः: adorned with great ornaments such as a crown
• मुकुट-आदि-महा-भूषः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुकुट + आदि + महा + भूष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य मुकुटादयः महाभूषाः सन्ति)

• प्रसन्न-मुख-पंकजः: whose serene face is like a lotus
• प्रसन्न-मुख-पंकजः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + मुख + पंकज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य मुखं प्रसन्नं पंकजवत्)

• कोटि-कन्दर्प-संकाशः: resembling millions of Cupids
• कोटि-कन्दर्प-संकाशः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + कन्दर्प + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यः कोटिकन्दर्पसदृशः)

• सन्दष्टः: was struck/bitten
• सन्दष्टः: कर्मणि-भावे विधेय (Predicate in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दंश् (धातु) + सम् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bitten/struck’

• मोहितेन: by delusion/being deluded
• मोहितेन: करण (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणत्वे (instrumental)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Visionary epiphany within the creation-cycle narration

Characters & Entities

• Kandarpa (Kama)

FAQs

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

It highlights the soul’s natural response to the auspicious (śiva) vision of the Divine: the mind becomes ‘seized’ and outward desire is redirected into reverent absorption, a doorway to bhakti and inner stillness.

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

The verse celebrates Saguna-darśana—Shiva’s manifest, gracious form—showing how contemplation of form can captivate the mind and prepare it for deeper worship, including Linga-upāsanā where form leads toward the formless truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna on Shiva’s serene lotus-face and divine ornaments while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), allowing the mind’s ‘enchantment’ to settle into steady devotion.