Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

कार्तिकेयलीलावर्णनम्

Narration of Kārttikeya’s Divine Play

Devanagari script

पुरोहितं चकारासौ विश्वामित्रं शुचेस्सुत । तदारभ्य द्विजवरो नानालीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

purohitaṃ cakārāsau viśvāmitraṃ śucessuta | tadārabhya dvijavaro nānālīlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

O Sohn des Śuci, er setzte Viśvāmitra als seinen Purohita, den Hauspriester, ein. Von da an wurde jener vortreffliche Brāhmaṇa kundig in vielerlei heiligen Riten und in mancherlei göttlichen Līlā und Künsten.

Word by Word

• पुरोहितम्: (as) priest
• पुरोहितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘appointed as’ (कर्म)

• चकार: made/appointed
• चकार: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘made/appointed’

• असौ: he (that one)
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विश्वामित्रम्: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शुचेः: of Śuci
• शुचेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सुत: O son
• सुत: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन

• तद्: then
• तद्: काल/क्रम (Temporal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-पूर्वपदवत् अव्ययप्रयोगः ‘then/thereupon’ (तद्-आदि अव्ययार्थे)

• आरभ्य: from then on / beginning from that
• आरभ्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-रभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) ‘having begun/from (that time)’

• द्विजवरः: the best of twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विजवरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजवर (प्रातिपदिक) = द्विज + वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्विजानां वरः)

• नानालीलाविशारदः: skilled in many kinds of sports/arts
• नानालीलाविशारदः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नानालीलाविशारद (प्रातिपदिक) = नाना + लीला + विशारद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नानासु लीलासु विशारदः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Vishvamitra
• Shuchi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the necessity of right guidance (purohita/guru) for dharmic living—an outer discipline that, in Shaiva understanding, supports inner purification and prepares the seeker for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

By emphasizing priestly appointment and ritual proficiency, it points to the ordered performance of Shiva-oriented rites under competent guidance—supporting Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā) as a structured path that steadies devotion and conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to undertake Shiva worship and vows with proper instruction—regular pūjā, mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī), and disciplined observances guided by a qualified teacher/priest.