Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

शिवलोकप्रवेशः

Entry into Śivaloka through successive gateways

Devanagari script

साह्लादोभ्यन्तरं विष्णुर्जगाम मुदिताननः । नानारत्नपरिक्षिप्तं विलसंतं महोज्ज्वलम्

Transliteration

sāhlādobhyantaraṃ viṣṇurjagāma muditānanaḥ | nānāratnaparikṣiptaṃ vilasaṃtaṃ mahojjvalam

Translation

Mit innerer Wonne erfüllt schritt Herr Viṣṇu weiter, sein Antlitz von Freude erstrahlend, in jene prächtige innere Halle hinein—von großer Leuchtkraft glänzend und ringsum mit vielerlei Edelsteinen geschmückt.

Word by Word

• साह्लाद: joyful, with delight
• साह्लाद: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + आह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आह्लादेन सह = ‘joyful’), विशेषण (qualifying अभ्यन्तरम्)

• अभ्यन्तरम्: the interior, inner part
• अभ्यन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object) (destination of ‘went’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• मुदिताननः: with a joyful face
• मुदिताननः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मुदितम् आननं यस्य/मुदित-आननः), विशेषण (qualifying विष्णुः)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb/indeclinable used as adjective ‘various’)

• रत्नपरिक्षिप्तम्: strewn/surrounded with jewels
• रत्नपरिक्षिप्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न + परि + क्षिप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘परिक्षिप्त’; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (रत्नैः परिक्षिप्तम्), विशेषण (qualifying implied ‘स्थानम्/भवनम्’)

• विलसन्तम्: shining, resplendent
• विलसन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle) ‘shining’

• महोज्ज्वलम्: very brilliant
• महोज्ज्वलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् उज्ज्वलः), विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights an inner state (sāhlāda—joyful fullness) reflected outwardly as radiance; in Shaiva understanding, such purity and delight arise when the mind moves toward the divine presence and auspicious dharma, preparing one for grace and right action.

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

Though the verse mentions Viṣṇu, it sets the devotional mood of approaching a sacred, luminous space—mirroring how a devotee approaches Saguna Shiva in the shrine: with joy, reverence, and awareness of divine splendor that points beyond ornamentation to the Presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate sāhlāda (uplifted devotion) before worship—begin with mental purification, then japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and enter the shrine or meditation with a calm, joyful face and focused heart.