Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency

Devanagari script

छिद्रान्वेषी भ्रमन्सोथ विनिकेतो यथानिलः । सप्तलोकान्सपातालान्रुद्रदेहे व्यलोकयत्

Transliteration

chidrānveṣī bhramansotha viniketo yathānilaḥ | saptalokānsapātālānrudradehe vyalokayat

Translation

Dann, nach einer Öffnung suchend und ruhelos umherirrend wie der heimatlose Wind, erblickte er im eigenen Leib Rudras alle sieben Welten samt den Pātālas, den Unterwelten.

Word by Word

• छिद्र-अन्वेषी: seeking a gap/opening
• छिद्र-अन्वेषी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वेषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष) ‘छिद्रं अन्वेषयति इति’

• भ्रमन्: wandering
• भ्रमन्: Kriya (क्रिया/अनुषङ्ग)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (concomitant action)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (particle: then/now)

• विनिकेतः: without a fixed dwelling/roaming
• विनिकेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनिकेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषण (अन्धक/शुक्र इत्यादि संदर्भे—‘without a fixed abode’)

• यथा: like
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक (comparative: like/as)

• अनिलः: wind
• अनिलः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• सप्त-लोकान्: the seven worlds
• सप्त-लोकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound)

• स-पातालान्: together with the netherworlds
• स-पातालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव ‘सहितम्’ अर्थे (with the netherworlds)

• रुद्र-देहे: in Rudra’s body
• रुद्र-देहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘रुद्रस्य देहे’

• व्यलोकयत्: he saw/observed
• व्यलोकयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Viśvarūpa-darśana motif: the cosmos beheld within Rudra’s body (microcosm–macrocosm revelation).

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It reveals Rudra as the all-containing Reality—every loka and pātāla rests within Him—pointing the seeker from limited egoic searching to the recognition that the cosmos is upheld by Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse supports Saguna contemplation: just as the universe is seen within Rudra’s body, the Liṅga is worshipped as the tangible, concentrated sign of Shiva who pervades and contains all worlds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva’s all-pervasiveness while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), visualizing the seven lokas resting in Shiva; this supports bhakti and inward surrender rather than outward restless searching.