Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

शक्तिशक्तिमतोश्चाऽथ विहारेणाऽति च क्षितिः । भाराक्रांता चकंपे सा सशेषाऽपि सकच्छपा

Transliteration

śaktiśaktimatoścā'tha vihāreṇā'ti ca kṣitiḥ | bhārākrāṃtā cakaṃpe sā saśeṣā'pi sakacchapā

Translation

Dann, als Śakti und der Herr, der Śakti trägt, in göttlichem Spiel verweilten, begann die Erde selbst zu beben. Von ihrem unermesslichen heiligen Gewicht niedergepresst, erzitterte sie—obwohl sie von Śeṣa und der Schildkröte (Kūrma) getragen wurde.

Word by Word

• शक्ति-शक्तिमतोः: of Śakti and the powerful one (Śiva)
• शक्ति-शक्तिमतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्तिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (शक्तिः च शक्तिमान् च); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Anantarya (अनन्तर/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर/प्रस्ताव (sequencer/then)

• विहारेण: by (their) sport, play
• विहारेण: Karana (करण/Instrument; cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अति: exceedingly
• अति: Prakara (प्रकार/Intensity)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: अव्यय; तीव्रतावाचक (intensifier: exceedingly)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• क्षितिः: the earth
• क्षितिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भार-आक्रान्ता: oppressed by weight
• भार-आक्रान्ता: Karta (कर्ता; predicate to सा/क्षितिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भार (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया/करण-तत्पुरुष: भारेण आक्रान्ता = burden-oppressed); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चकम्पे: trembled
• चकम्पे: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम्प् (धातु) + च (उपसर्ग/निपात; reduplication marker in perfect stem)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सा: she (the earth)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; refers to क्षितिः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स-शेषा: together with Śeṣa (serpent)
• स-शेषा: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of सा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ 'with') + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (शेषेण सह); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• स-कच्छपा: together with the tortoise (Kacchapa)
• स-कच्छपा: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of सा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थ 'with') + कच्छप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (कच्छपेन सह); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, within the Kumārakhaṇḍa narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmic disturbance caused by Śiva–Śakti’s līlā; not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga shrine in this passage.

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva-Śakti as the ground of the cosmos: their ‘play’ is not mundane but the metaphysical impetus behind manifestation; inspires awe and surrender.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic tremor (loka-kampana) triggered by Śiva–Śakti līlā; imagery invokes world-support system (Śeṣa, Kūrma).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Shesha
• Kurma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that all cosmic stability ultimately rests on Śiva with Śakti: when the Supreme (Pati) manifests His power (Śakti) in divine līlā, even the world upheld by great supports (Śeṣa and Kūrma) is shown to be dependent on that higher, transcendent sovereignty.

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

It points to Saguna Śiva as the active Lord whose union with Śakti governs creation and motion. Linga-worship honors this Supreme Reality in a worshipful form—acknowledging that the cosmos moves by His presence and power, not merely by secondary supports.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva–Shakti contemplation while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), seeing the Lord as the inner support beyond all outer supports—often paired in Shaiva practice with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s sustaining presence.