Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

शंखचक्रायुधकरो गदापद्मधरः परः । घनश्यामलसर्वांगः पीताम्बरधरः परः

Transliteration

śaṃkhacakrāyudhakaro gadāpadmadharaḥ paraḥ | ghanaśyāmalasarvāṃgaḥ pītāmbaradharaḥ paraḥ

Translation

Er hielt Muschel und Diskus als Waffen und trug Keule und Lotos; sein ganzer Leib war dunkel wie dichtes Gewölk, und er war in gelbe Gewänder gehüllt — so erschien er als der Höchste.

Word by Word

• शंख-चक्र-आयुध-करः: whose hands bear conch and discus as weapons
• शंख-चक्र-आयुध-करः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शंख + चक्र + आयुध + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य करः शंखचक्रायुधयुक्तः)

• गदा-पद्म-धरः: bearing mace and lotus
• गदा-पद्म-धरः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदा + पद्म + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यः गदां पद्मं च धरति)

• परः: supreme
• परः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• घन-श्यामल-सर्व-अंगः: whose whole body is deep dark-blue
• घन-श्यामल-सर्व-अंगः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घन + श्यामल + सर्व + अंग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य सर्वाणि अङ्गानि घनश्यामलानि)

• पीत-अम्बर-धरः: wearing yellow garments
• पीत-अम्बर-धरः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत + अम्बर + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यः पीतमम्बरं धरति)

• परः: supreme
• परः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Sṛṣṭi-kathā frame: Brahmā’s primordial vision preceding/within creation narrative

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It portrays the Saguna (manifest) divine form—recognizable by attributes like conch, discus, mace, and lotus—showing how the Supreme is apprehended through auspicious symbols within the creation narrative, while Shaiva Siddhanta ultimately points beyond forms to the sovereignty of Pati (Shiva).

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

By emphasizing a deity’s iconic attributes, the verse supports Saguna-upasana (worship with form). In Shaiva practice, the Linga is the primary Saguna symbol through which devotees concentrate the mind and offer devotion, recognizing that forms are gateways to the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyana (visual meditation) on the divine form with its auspicious marks is suggested; in Shaiva usage this aligns with Linga-dhyana accompanied by japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady attention and purify devotion.