Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणविमानोपरि संस्थिता । रक्तवस्त्रपरीधाना रक्तमाल्यानुलेपना

Transliteration

ratnendrasāranirmāṇavimānopari saṃsthitā | raktavastraparīdhānā raktamālyānulepanā

Translation

Auf einem himmlischen Vimāna sitzend, aus der Essenz des Herrn der Edelsteine geschaffen, trug sie rote Gewänder, rote Girlanden und war mit roten Salbungen gesalbt.

Word by Word

• रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणविमान-उपरि: upon the aerial car made of the essence of the lord of gems
• रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणविमान-उपरि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रत्न + इन्द्र + सार + निर्माण + विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्ययीभाव-समासः; उपरि-शब्दः (locative sense adverb) = “upon/above”; पूर्वपदं षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समाहारः (रत्नेन्द्रसारनिर्माणविमान = “a vimāna made of the essence of the lord of gems”)

• संस्थिता: seated/placed
• संस्थिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; “having been placed/being seated/standing”

• रक्त-वस्त्र-परिधाना: wearing red garments
• रक्त-वस्त्र-परिधाना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + परिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—“यस्या: रक्तानि वस्त्राणि परिधानं (अस्ति)”

• रक्त-माल्य-अनुलेपना: with red garlands and red unguents
• रक्त-माल्य-अनुलेपना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—“यस्या: रक्तं माल्यं रक्तम् अनुलेपनं (अस्ति)”

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kali

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

The verse presents an auspicious saguna (manifest) vision of the Devī—radiant, richly adorned, and enthroned—supporting bhakti by giving the mind a pure, elevating form through which grace and protection are contemplated in Shaiva tradition.

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

In Shaiva Siddhānta, the Liṅga signifies Shiva’s transcendence, while divine forms and iconographic details guide devotion; this verse strengthens saguna upāsanā by portraying the Devī’s splendor, which complements Liṅga worship as Shiva-Shakti are inseparable in ritual contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is dhyāna (visualization) during pūjā: contemplate the Devī in a red, auspicious form while reciting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering red flowers/sandal paste where appropriate to one’s tradition, maintaining purity and devotion.