Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

अघोरहृदयं हृद्यं सर्वगुह्यं सदाशिवम् । वामपादं महादेवं महाभोगीन्द्रभूषणम्

Transliteration

aghorahṛdayaṃ hṛdyaṃ sarvaguhyaṃ sadāśivam | vāmapādaṃ mahādevaṃ mahābhogīndrabhūṣaṇam

Translation

Sein linker Fuß ist das Herz des Aghora — höchst lieblich, das oberste Geheimnis, Sadāśiva selbst; er ist Mahādeva, geschmückt mit dem großen Schlangenkönig als Sinnbild seiner erhabenen Souveränität.

Word by Word

• अघोर-हृदयम्: the heart (aspect) of Aghora
• अघोर-हृदयम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of Aghora’

• हृद्यम्: pleasing, dear
• हृद्यम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सर्व-गुह्यम्: most secret of all
• सर्व-गुह्यम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘entirely secret/most secret’

• सदा-शिवम्: Sadāśiva
• सदा-शिवम्: कर्म (karma; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम; कर्मधारय: ‘ever-auspicious’

• वाम-पादम्: the left foot
• वाम-पादम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘left foot’

• महा-देवम्: Mahādeva
• महा-देवम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नाम; कर्मधारय

• महा-भोगीन्द्र-भूषणम्: ornament of the great serpent-king
• महा-भोगीन्द्र-भूषणम्: कर्म (karma; object, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ornament of the great lord of serpents (Śeṣa/Ananta)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadashiva
• Aghora

FAQs

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

The verse sacralizes Śiva’s left foot as the very essence of Aghora and Sadāśiva—teaching that the Lord’s form is not merely symbolic but a revealed, “most secret” reality that grants inner delight and liberation when contemplated with devotion.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā by presenting a specific limb of Śiva as a focus of meditation; in Śaiva practice, such contemplation naturally culminates in reverence for the Liṅga as the all-comprehensive sign of Sadāśiva beyond parts, while still approachable through form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva’s auspicious Aghora aspect while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); offer bilva leaves or water to the Liṅga with the bhāva that the Lord’s feet are the refuge and the “supreme secret” of grace.