Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

अथ दृष्ट्वा कलावर्णमृग्यजुस्सामरूपिणम् । ईशानमीशमुकुटं पुरुषाख्यं पुरातनम्

Transliteration

atha dṛṣṭvā kalāvarṇamṛgyajussāmarūpiṇam | īśānamīśamukuṭaṃ puruṣākhyaṃ purātanam

Translation

Dann erblickte er Īśāna — den Herrn, dessen Gestalt selbst die Veden (Ṛk, Yajus und Sāman) sind, der alle Künste und Farben in sich trägt, den uralten, ewigen Puruṣa, die Krone aller Herrscher — und versenkte sich ehrfürchtig in Ihn.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/वाक्योपक्रम (sambandha/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/thereupon)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (kriyā-viśeṣaṇa; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव; ‘having seen’

• कला-वर्ण-मृक्-यजुस्-साम-रूपिणम्: having the form of the kalās, varṇas, Ṛk, Yajus and Sāman
• कला-वर्ण-मृक्-यजुस्-साम-रूपिणम्: कर्म (karma; object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मृक्/ऋक् (प्रातिपदिक) + यजुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + साम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण; रूपिन्-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘having the form of…’

• ईशानम्: Īśāna
• ईशानम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेष्य (proper epithet/name)

• ईश-मुकुटम्: the Lord’s crown/crest
• ईश-मुकुटम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘of the Lord’

• पुरुष-आख्यम्: called ‘Puruṣa’
• पुरुष-आख्यम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘named/called …’

• पुरातनम्: ancient, primeval
• पुरातनम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana
• Purusha
• Vedas

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva as Īśāna, the primordial Puruṣa and the supreme Pati (Lord) who stands above all other rulers, showing that true knowledge and liberation arise by recognizing Him as the source of both creation and sacred revelation.

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

By describing Īśāna with form and attributes—Veda-svarūpa, sovereign, ancient Puruṣa—it supports Saguna upāsanā: approaching Śiva through a sacred, knowable form (including Liṅga worship) that leads the devotee toward realization of His transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Veda-svarūpa Īśāna while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), contemplating Him as the supreme Lord beyond all lords; this aligns well with Mahāśivarātri japa and dhyāna.