Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

पुरीभिश्शोभिशिखरं मेरोरुच्चैस्सुरालयम् । रंभाशचीमेनकादिरंभोरुगणसेवितम्

Transliteration

purībhiśśobhiśikharaṃ meroruccaissurālayam | raṃbhāśacīmenakādiraṃbhorugaṇasevitam

Translation

Hoch oben auf dem Berge Meru steht die strahlende Stadt der Götter, deren Gipfel durch viele glänzende Paläste herrlich geschmückt ist. Sie wird von himmlischen Frauen—Rambhā, Śacī, Menakā und anderen—umgeben und von Scharen bezaubernd schöner Apsarās bedient.

Word by Word

• purībhiḥ: by/with cities
• purībhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śobhi-śikharam: a splendid peak/summit
• śobhi-śikharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śobhi (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (śobhi śikharaṃ = splendid peak)

• meroḥ: of Meru
• meroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• uccaiḥ: loftily/very high
• uccaiḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• surālayam: abode of the gods
• surālayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (surāṇām ālayaḥ)

• raṃbhā: Rambhā
• raṃbhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṃbhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śacī: Śacī
• śacī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• menakā: Menakā
• menakā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: menakā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādi: and others (beginning with)
• ādi: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable meaning 'etc./beginning with' (आदिशब्दः अव्ययवत्)

• raṃbhā-uru-gaṇa-sevitam: attended/served by the troop (of apsarases) like Rambhā (broad-thighed)
• raṃbhā-uru-gaṇa-sevitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raṃbhā (प्रातिपदिक) + uru (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sevita (कृदन्त, √sev सेव्)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); past passive participle (क्त/कृत्) 'sevita' = 'served/attended'; compound as determinative: 'served by the group of broad-thighed (nymphs) such as Rambhā' (समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषप्रायः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Meru
• Rambha
• Sachi
• Menaka
• Devas
• Apsaras

FAQs

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

The verse paints the grandeur of devaloka on Meru to show that even the most refined celestial splendor is still a created realm; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes seeking Pati (Shiva) through devotion and knowledge rather than being captivated by worldly or heavenly attractions.

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

By contrasting divine luxury with the higher aim of liberation, it indirectly supports Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga worship) as a steady, purifying focus that leads beyond all lokas toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vairāgya with bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating that even heaven is impermanent, thereby directing the mind toward Shiva rather than sensory delight.