Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

Devanagari script

ददर्श तत्र लक्ष्मीशं ब्रह्मा देवगणैस्सह । किरीटिनं कुंडलिनं वनमालाविभूषितम्

Transliteration

dadarśa tatra lakṣmīśaṃ brahmā devagaṇaissaha | kirīṭinaṃ kuṃḍalinaṃ vanamālāvibhūṣitam

Translation

Dort erblickte Brahmā, begleitet von den Scharen der Götter, den Herrn der Lakṣmī (Viṣṇu) — bekrönt, mit Ohrringen geschmückt und durch eine Waldblumengirlande geziert.

Word by Word

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• लक्ष्मीशम्: Lord of Lakṣmī (Viṣṇu)
• लक्ष्मीशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी+ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘लक्ष्म्याः ईशः’)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवगणैः: with the groups of gods
• देवगणैः: Saha/Instrument (सह/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव+गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘देवानां गणाः’)

• सह: with
• सह: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable ‘with’)

• किरीटिनम्: crowned
• किरीटिनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘लक्ष्मीशम्’)

• कुण्डलिनम्: wearing earrings
• कुण्डलिनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुण्डलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वनमालाविभूषितम्: adorned with a forest-garland
• वनमालाविभूषितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनमाला+वि+भूषित (प्रातिपदिक; भूष् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) ‘adorned’; तत्पुरुष-समास (तृतीया: ‘वनमालया विभूषितः’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it is a darśana of Viṣṇu in Vaikuṇṭha described with royal iconography (kirīṭa, kuṇḍala, vanamālā). In Śaiva Siddhānta, Viṣṇu is a high divine functionary within Śiva’s cosmic administration, associated with sthiti (preservation).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights darśana—encountering the Divine in a manifest (saguṇa) form—showing how even Brahmā and the devas approach the Lord with reverence. In a Shaiva reading, such divine forms and splendor point toward the higher truth of Pati (the Supreme), to be realized through devotion and right understanding.

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

By describing Viṣṇu with crown, earrings, and garland, the text affirms saguṇa-upāsanā (worship with form and attributes). Shaiva Siddhānta accepts such worship as a support for devotion; the Śiva-liṅga similarly serves as a sacred, accessible focus through which the mind is led toward Śiva, the ultimate Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate darśana-bhāva: approach the deity with purity and reverence, offer flowers/garlands, and steady the mind in japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—allowing external worship to mature into inward remembrance.