Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

कामभस्म-प्रार्थना: रत्याः शङ्करं प्रति विनयः / Rati’s Supplication to Śaṅkara regarding Kāma’s Ashes

Devanagari script

तद्रूपश्च तदाकारसंस्मितं सधनुश्शरम् । दृष्ट्वा पतिं रतिस्तं च प्रणनाम महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

tadrūpaśca tadākārasaṃsmitaṃ sadhanuśśaram | dṛṣṭvā patiṃ ratistaṃ ca praṇanāma maheśvaram

Translation

Als Rati ihren eigenen Gemahl in eben jener Gestalt erblickte—von gleicher Form, mit sanftem Lächeln und mit Bogen und Pfeilen in der Hand—verneigte sie sich in Andacht vor Maheśvara (Śiva), dem Höchsten Herrn.

Word by Word

• तत्-रूपः: that-formed one / one of that form
• तत्-रूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (तस्य रूपः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तत्-आकार-सं-स्मितम्: smiling with that appearance/form
• तत्-आकार-सं-स्मितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (तस्य आकारेण सह स्मितम्/तदाकारं स्मितम्)

• स-धनुः-शरम्: with bow and arrows
• स-धनुः-शरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह/सम्, अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (धनुःशराभ्यां सहितम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• पतिम्: husband, lord
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• रतिḥ: Rati
• रतिḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• प्रणनाम: bowed down, saluted
• प्रणनाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rati
• Kama (Manmatha)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (humble surrender): even when one beholds a beloved form, true auspiciousness arises by recognizing Maheshvara as the supreme Pati and offering reverence, aligning the soul (paśu) with the Lord’s grace.

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

Rati’s act of bowing shows Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Shiva through a perceivable form and attitude of devotion. In the same spirit, Linga worship trains the mind to honor Shiva as the indwelling reality beyond changing appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is praṇāma with smaraṇa (remembrance): mentally visualize Maheshvara, offer obeisance, and repeat the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a calm, reverent mind.