Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

रुद्राविर्भावकारणम् — Causes and Pattern of Rudra’s Manifestation

Pratikalpa

Devanagari script

कपर्दिनो निरातंकान्नीलग्रीवांस्त्रिलोचनान् । जरामरणनिर्मुक्तान् दीप्तशूलवरायुधान्

Transliteration

kapardino nirātaṃkānnīlagrīvāṃstrilocanān | jarāmaraṇanirmuktān dīptaśūlavarāyudhān

Translation

Sie erblickten die Kapardin, die mit verfilztem Haar, furchtlos, blaukehlig und dreiäugig waren; frei von Alter und Tod, trugen sie leuchtende Dreizacke und andere erhabene Waffen.

Word by Word

• kapardinaḥ: kapardins (wearers of matted hair)
• kapardinaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); epithet used as object list

• nir-ātaṅkān: fearless/untroubled
• nir-ātaṅkān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirātaṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); viśeṣaṇa (of the created beings)

• nīla-grīvān: blue-necked
• nīla-grīvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla + grīvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); bahuvrīhi: nīlā grīvā yasya (having a blue neck)

• tri-locanān: three-eyed
• tri-locanān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); bahuvrīhi: trīṇi locanāni yasya (three-eyed)

• jarā-maraṇa-nirmuktān: freed from aging and death
• jarā-maraṇa-nirmuktān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jarā + maraṇa + nirmukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); samāsa: jarā-maraṇāt nirmuktāḥ (freed from old age and death)

• dīpta-śūla-vara-āyudhān: having blazing spears as splendid weapons
• dīpta-śūla-vara-āyudhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīpta + śūla + vara + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana (Plural); samāsa (multi-member): dīptaṃ śūlaṃ varaṃ āyudhaṃ yeṣām (having blazing spears as excellent weapons)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: appearance of deathless Rudra-emanations within the created cosmos

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Rudra-like attendants/forms of Shiva as embodiments of fearlessness and deathlessness, pointing to Shiva (Pati) as the liberator who removes the bonds of birth, aging, and death for the soul (pashu).

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

These epithets—Nīlagrīva, Trilocana, bearer of the trident—are Saguna identifiers that help devotees concentrate the mind; such focused devotion naturally culminates in Linga-centered worship where Shiva is revered as the supreme, compassionate Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Trilocana and Nīlakaṇṭha while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), visualizing the radiant trident as the power that cuts the bonds (pāśa) leading to freedom from fear.