Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55

शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)

Devanagari script

क्वचिद्दध्यौ स्वमात्मानं क्वचिद्योगरतोऽभवत् । इतिहासगणान्प्रीत्यावादीत्स्वच्छन्दमानसः

Transliteration

kvaciddadhyau svamātmānaṃ kvacidyogarato'bhavat | itihāsagaṇānprītyāvādītsvacchandamānasaḥ

Translation

Bisweilen betrachtete er sein eigenes Selbst (Ātman), bisweilen war er in Yoga versunken. Mit einem Geist, der frei nach Belieben schweifte, erzählte er freudig Scharen heiliger Überlieferungen.

Word by Word

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: somewhere/sometimes)

• दध्यौ: meditated
• दध्यौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of आत्मानम्)

• आत्मानम्: self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• क्वचित्: sometimes
• क्वचित्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• योगरतः: engaged in yoga
• योगरतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: योगरत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—योगे रतः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष); विशेषणम् (of implied subject)

• अभवत्: became/was
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इतिहासगणान्: collections of stories/legends
• इतिहासगणान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतिहास (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—इतिहासानां गणाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• प्रीत्या: with affection/joy
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अवादीत्: spoke/told
• अवादीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वच्छन्दमानसः: one whose mind was free/unfettered
• स्वच्छन्दमानसः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—स्वच्छन्दं मानसं यस्य सः (one whose mind is free)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It presents an ideal Shaiva rhythm of practice: inward Self-contemplation (ātma-vicāra/dhyāna) and disciplined yoga, supported by uplifting sacred narratives—showing that liberation is nurtured by both inner realization and devotionally charged remembrance.

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

Though the verse does not name the Liṅga explicitly, it aligns with Saguna Shiva-upāsanā: sacred stories and praise kindle devotion, while yoga and Self-contemplation mature that devotion into steady awareness of Pati (Shiva) as the indwelling Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily dhyāna and yoga-abhyāsa, complemented by śravaṇa/paṭhana of Shiva Purana kathā; one may pair this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize the mind and deepen Shaiva orientation.