Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

इत्थं रुद्रस्वरूपोऽसौ शंकरः परमेश्वरः । अकार्षीत्स्वगिरौ लीला नाना योगिवरोऽपि यः

Transliteration

itthaṃ rudrasvarūpo'sau śaṃkaraḥ parameśvaraḥ | akārṣītsvagirau līlā nānā yogivaro'pi yaḥ

Translation

So vollzog Śaṅkara, der höchste Parameśvara, dessen Wesen Rudra ist, sein göttliches Spiel auf seinem eigenen Berge, obgleich er sich in vielerlei Gestalten als der erhabenste der Yogins zeigte.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: thus)

• रुद्रस्वरूपः: of Rudra-form
• रुद्रस्वरूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—रुद्रस्य स्वरूपः (having Rudra-nature)

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—परमः ईश्वरः (Supreme Lord)

• अकार्षीत्: did/performed
• अकार्षीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्वगिरौ: on his own mountain
• स्वगिरौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—स्वस्य गिरिः (his own mountain)

• लीलाम्: play/divine sport
• लीलाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषणार्थ/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/बहुत्ववाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable: various)

• योगिवरः: the best of yogis
• योगिवरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—योगिनां वरः (best of yogis)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis (समुच्चय/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who remains the perfect Yogi, yet freely manifests līlā for the sake of creation and the upliftment of bound souls—showing that divine action can be both transcendent and compassionate.

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

By describing Parameśvara’s purposeful manifestation and “play,” the verse supports Saguna worship: devotees approach Shiva’s accessible forms (including the Liṅga) while understanding His essence as Rudra beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate yogic steadiness while remembering Shiva’s lordship—practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditation on Śiva as the supreme Yogi, offering all actions as His līlā.