Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

शिवलोकप्रवेशः

Entry into Śivaloka through successive gateways

Devanagari script

इन्द्रनीलमणिस्तंभैर्वेष्टितां सुमनोहराम् । सुसंस्कृतां च सर्वत्र वासितां गंधवायुना

Transliteration

indranīlamaṇistaṃbhairveṣṭitāṃ sumanoharām | susaṃskṛtāṃ ca sarvatra vāsitāṃ gaṃdhavāyunā

Translation

كان ذلك الموضع مُحاطًا بأعمدةٍ من جوهر الإِندْرَنِيلَة (الياقوت الأزرق)، فاتنًا للنظر غاية الفتنة؛ مُزَيَّنًا بإتقان في كل ناحية، ومُعَطَّرًا في كل مكان بنسائمَ عِطْرَةٍ زكيّة.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रनील-मणि-स्तम्भैः: with pillars of sapphire-gems
• इन्द्रनील-मणि-स्तम्भैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रनील (प्रातिपदिक) + मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला (इन्द्रनीलस्य मणयः; मणीनां स्तम्भाः)

• वेष्टिताम्: wrapped/encircled
• वेष्टिताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; described entity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेṣ्ट्/वेष्टय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (wrapped/encircled)

• सुमनोहराम्: very beautiful/charming
• सुमनोहराम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of described object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-मनः-हरः)

• सुसंस्कृताम्: well-decorated
• सुसंस्कृताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + संस्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम् + कृ धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (well-adorned/well-prepared)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘everywhere’)

• वासिताम्: perfumed
• वासिताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; described entity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वास् (धातु; causative sense ‘to perfume’)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘perfumed/scented’

• गन्ध-वायुना: by fragrant breeze
• गन्ध-वायुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धस्य वायुः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Purāṇic principle that a sanctified, beautiful environment supports sattva (clarity) and devotion; outer purity and auspiciousness symbolically reflect the inner refinement needed for approaching Pati (Śiva) with reverence.

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

By describing a gem-pillared, fragrant, well-adorned setting, the text mirrors the traditional upacāras of Saguna worship—decorating and perfuming the sacred space around the Liṅga—so the devotee’s mind becomes steady and receptive to Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Create a clean, fragrant worship space, offer gandha (sandal/paste/incense) and flowers, and chant the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a focused mind—treating outer offerings as supports for inner concentration.