Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । सहस्रवर्ष पर्य्यन्तं देवमानेन शंकरः । रतौ रतश्च निश्चेष्टो योगी विरमते न हि

Transliteration

brahmovāca | sahasravarṣa paryyantaṃ devamānena śaṃkaraḥ | ratau rataśca niśceṣṭo yogī viramate na hi

Translation

Brahmā said: For as long as a thousand years—reckoned by the measure of the gods—Śaṅkara remained absorbed in amorous union; yet, though engaged in delight, the Yogin was motionless and did not cease from his inner yogic equipoise.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्म: Brahmā
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वक्ता-निर्देश (speaker tag)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सहस्रवर्षम्: a thousand years
• सहस्रवर्षम्: Kāla-adhvana (काल-अध्वन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (सहस्रं वर्षाणि)

• पर्यन्तम्: up to/for the duration of
• पर्यन्तम्: Kāla-avadhi (काल-अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधिवाचक (limit-marker)

• देवमानेन: by divine measure (of time)
• देवमानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां मानम् = divine measure)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रतौ: in love-making/pleasure
• रतौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• रतः: engaged/delighting
• रतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) from √रम् (to delight)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक

• निश्चेष्टः: motionless/inactive
• निश्चेष्टः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + चेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• योगी: the yogi
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विरमते: ceases/desists
• विरमते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: divine-time dilation (deva-māna) emphasizing supra-human temporality

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as the supreme Yogin whose inner stillness is never broken—even while participating in worldly or cosmic functions—teaching that true liberation is rooted in unwavering consciousness and detachment.

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

Saguna Śiva is shown acting within creation, yet remaining inwardly nirvikāra (unchanged). Linga-worship trains the devotee to perceive this same changeless Reality within all forms and activities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna on Śiva’s immovable awareness; support it with Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a disciplined yogic posture to cultivate inner stillness.