Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

कुमाराभिषेकवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Abhiṣeka

Consecration/Installation

Devanagari script

उपगुह्य शिवः प्रीत्या कुमारं मूर्ध्नि शंकरः । जघ्रौ प्रेम्णा परमेशानः प्रसन्नः स्नेहकर्तृकः

Transliteration

upaguhya śivaḥ prītyā kumāraṃ mūrdhni śaṃkaraḥ | jaghrau premṇā parameśānaḥ prasannaḥ snehakartṛkaḥ

Translation

In Freude umarmte Śaṅkara—Śiva, der höchste Herr—den göttlichen Kumāra und roch (küsste) ihn liebevoll auf dem Scheitel. Parameśāna, beglückt und von zarter Liebe bewegt, tat dies aus reiner väterlicher Zuneigung.

Word by Word

• उपगुह्य: having embraced
• उपगुह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-गुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: गुह् (to conceal/embrace) उपसर्ग: उप; अर्थे: ‘आलिङ्ग्य/उपगूढ्य’

• शिवः: Shiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Karaṇa (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक—‘प्रीतिसहितेन’

• कुमारम्: the boy (Kumāra)
• कुमारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘शिव’ इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन

• जघ्रौ: smelled
• जघ्रौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: घ्रा (to smell)

• प्रेम्णा: with love
• प्रेम्णा: Hetu/Karaṇa (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• परमेशानः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेशानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: परमः ईशानः (supreme lord)

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (शिव/परमेशान)

• स्नेहकर्तृकः: moved by affection
• स्नेहकर्तृकः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नेह-कर्तृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: स्नेहेन कर्तृकः (having affection as the cause/agent)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kumar
• Shankara
• Parameshana

FAQs

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

It highlights Saguna Śiva’s accessible, compassionate nature—Parameśvara is not distant, but lovingly bestows grace through intimate divine līlā, teaching that bhakti is met with tender divine response.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent reality, this scene emphasizes Saguna worship: devotees relate to Śiva as a personal Lord whose grace is felt as closeness, protection, and affectionate blessing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate bhakti-bhāva in japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offer simple upacāras (water, bilva) to the Śiva-liṅga, meditating on Śiva’s प्रसन्न (pleased) grace that sanctifies the devotee like a father’s blessing.