Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्

Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance

Devanagari script

सर्वाङ्गसुन्दरो गौरः पंचवक्त्रस्त्रिलोचनः । चंद्रभालः प्रसन्नात्मा शितिकंठश्चतुर्भुज

Transliteration

sarvāṅgasundaro gauraḥ paṃcavaktrastrilocanaḥ | caṃdrabhālaḥ prasannātmā śitikaṃṭhaścaturbhuja

Translation

Er ist an jedem Glied von vollkommener Schönheit, strahlend und licht; fünffach im Antlitz und dreiaugig. Seine Stirn schmückt der Mond; sein Innerstes ist heiter und gnädig. Blaukehligen Wesens, vierarmig — so wird die glückverheißende, offenbarte saguṇa-Gestalt des Herrn Śiva gepriesen.

Word by Word

• sarva-aṅga-sundaraḥ: beautiful in all limbs
• sarva-aṅga-sundaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वेषाम् अङ्गानां सुन्दरः’

• gauraḥ: fair/bright
• gauraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg)

• paṃca-vaktraḥ: five-faced
• paṃca-vaktraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg); द्विगु-समासः—‘पञ्च वक्राणि यस्य’ (five-faced)

• tri-locanaḥ: three-eyed
• tri-locanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg); द्विगु-समासः—‘त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्य’

• caṃdra-bhālaḥ: moon-foreheaded
• caṃdra-bhālaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṃdra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘चन्द्रस्य भालः/भाले चन्द्रः यस्य’ (moon on the forehead)

• prasanna-ātmā: serene-souled
• prasanna-ātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (√sad/सद् with pra-, क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त as adj.) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg); कर्मधारयः—‘प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य/प्रसन्नात्मा’

• śiti-kaṃṭhaḥ: blue-throated
• śiti-kaṃṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiti (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṃṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg); कर्मधारयः—‘शितिः कण्ठः यस्य’ (blue/ashen-throated)

• catur-bhujaḥ: four-armed
• catur-bhujaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (M), प्रथमा (Nom. 1st), एकवचन (Sg); द्विगु-समासः—‘चत्वारो भुजाः यस्य’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse offers a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative icon) of Śiva—five faces, three eyes, moon-crested, blue-throated—guiding devotees to contemplate the compassionate Pati (Lord) in a tangible saguṇa form, which steadies the mind and ripens devotion toward liberation.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, this description supports saguṇa-upāsanā—visualization and praise of Śiva’s auspicious attributes—so the devotee can approach the Liṅga with devotion, concentration, and reverence for the Lord’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is Śiva-dhyāna: mentally visualize Śiva as pañcavaktra-trilocana, candra-bhāla, nīlakaṇṭha, caturbhuja while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to support steadiness and devotion.