Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

यथोक्तरूपिणं शंभुं निर्गुणं गुणरूपिणम् । पंचवक्त्रं दशभुजं त्रिनेत्रं वृषभध्वजम्

Transliteration

yathoktarūpiṇaṃ śaṃbhuṃ nirguṇaṃ guṇarūpiṇam | paṃcavaktraṃ daśabhujaṃ trinetraṃ vṛṣabhadhvajam

Translation

Ich betrachte Śambhu genau in der beschriebenen Gestalt: Śiva, jenseits aller Eigenschaften (nirguṇa) und doch in einer Gestalt mit Eigenschaften (saguṇa); fünfgesichtig, zehnarmig, dreiäugig und mit dem Stier auf seinem Banner.

Word by Word

• yathā-ukta-rūpiṇam: having the form as described
• yathā-ukta-rūpiṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ukta (कृदन्त) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) शम्भुम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• śaṃbhum: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhum: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• nirguṇam: without qualities (attribute-less)
• nirguṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) शम्भुम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• guṇa-rūpiṇam: having a form of qualities (manifest as attributes)
• guṇa-rūpiṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) शम्भुम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• pañca-vaktram: five-faced
• pañca-vaktram: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) शम्भुम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• daśa-bhujam: ten-armed
• daśa-bhujam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) शम्भुम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• tri-netram: three-eyed
• tri-netram: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) शम्भुम् इति विशेष्यस्य

• vṛṣabha-dhvajam: whose banner is the bull
• vṛṣabha-dhvajam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) शम्भुम् इति विशेष्यस्य

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: yathoktarūpiṇaṃ śaṃbhuṃ nirguṇaṃ guṇarūpiṇam | paṃcavaktraṃ daśabhujaṃ trinetraṃ vṛṣabhadhvajam

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It unites two core Shaiva truths: Shiva is the transcendent Pati beyond all guṇas (nirguṇa), yet out of grace He becomes approachable through a manifest, meditatable form (saguṇa) for the uplift of bound souls (paśu).

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

The verse supports saguna-upāsanā as a valid doorway to the nirguna reality: devotees may worship the Liṅga as the formless sign of the Absolute, and also meditate on Shiva’s iconic form (pañcavaktra, trinetra) as the same Supreme expressed with attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A clear takeaway is dhyāna: visualize Shiva as described (five faces, three eyes, bull-emblem) while repeating a Shiva mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady the mind in devotion and inner worship.