Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

महोत्सवो महानासीच्छिवे कैलासमागते । देवास्स्वविषयं प्राप्ता हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः

Transliteration

mahotsavo mahānāsīcchive kailāsamāgate | devāssvaviṣayaṃ prāptā harṣanirbharamānasāḥ

Translation

শিব কৈলাসে আগমন করলে মহোৎসব জেগে উঠল; দেবতারা নিজ নিজ লোকধামে ফিরে গেলেন, তাঁদের হৃদয় আনন্দে পরিপূর্ণ ছিল।

Word by Word

• महोत्सवः: a great festival
• महोत्सवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of महोत्सवः)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• शिवे: when/with Śiva (being present)
• शिवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• कैलासम्: to Kailāsa
• कैलासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (goal/object of motion)

• आगते: having come
• आगते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; शिवे इति विशेष्ये सति (locative absolute sense)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• स्वविषयम्: their own realms
• स्वविषयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + विषय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य विषयः); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्राप्ताः: reached / returned to
• प्राप्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle) कर्तरि-प्रयोगवत्; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘देवाः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण (predicate participle)

• हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः: whose minds were filled with joy
• हर्षनिर्भरमानसाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष + निर्भर + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (हर्षेण निर्भरं मानसं येषाम्); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (देवाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, as typical for Purāṇic framing in the Rudra Saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Darśana of Śiva’s return to Kailāsa signifies restoration of cosmic auspiciousness and the devas’ renewed stability in their spheres.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Kailasa

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva’s presence as intrinsically auspicious: when Pati (Shiva) is manifest in His sacred abode, the cosmos returns to harmony, and divine beings naturally rest in joy and order—hinting that inner peace arises when consciousness is centered in Shiva.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva—Shiva as personally present and approachable—whose arrival becomes a cause of celebration. In Linga worship, devotees similarly invoke Shiva’s gracious presence (āvāhana) so that the heart becomes ‘Kailasa,’ a seat of auspiciousness and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to celebrate Shiva’s ‘arrival’ through daily āvāhana in worship—offering water and bilva leaves to the Linga while repeating the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—cultivating a mind ‘filled with joy’ and steadied in Shiva.