Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

तत्र गत्वा हरिर्देवैर्मया च सुरवल्लभः । ययौ शिववरस्थानं शंकरं द्रष्टुकाम्यया

Transliteration

tatra gatvā harirdevairmayā ca suravallabhaḥ | yayau śivavarasthānaṃ śaṃkaraṃ draṣṭukāmyayā

Translation

Having gone there, Hari—beloved of the gods—together with the devas and with me, proceeded to Śiva’s most excellent abode, desiring to behold Śaṅkara.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable; ‘having gone’

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• देवैः: with the gods
• देवैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• मया: with me / by me
• मया: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• सुरवल्लभः: beloved of the gods
• सुरवल्लभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सुराणां वल्लभः’); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; apposition to ‘हरिः’

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• शिववरस्थानम्: to Śiva’s excellent abode
• शिववरस्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (determinative; ‘शिवस्य वरं स्थानम्’/‘शिवस्य श्रेष्ठं स्थानम्’); Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रष्टुकाम्यया: out of a wish to see
• द्रष्टुकाम्यया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रष्टु (गम्/दृश्-धातोः तुमुन्; infinitive base) + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘with the desire to see’; semantic: हेतौ तृतीया (instrumental of cause)

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating to Nārada within the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: The verse intensifies the Kailāsa approach into entry toward Śiva’s ‘vara-sthāna’ (supreme abode). In Himalayan Jyotirliṅga imagination, Kedāranātha functions as a terrestrial gateway to Śiva’s mountain-presence sought by gods and humans alike.

Significance: Frames darśana (draṣṭukāmyā) as salvific: seeking to behold Śaṅkara is itself a movement from pāśa-bound anxiety toward anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even exalted beings like Hari and the devas seek Śaṅkara’s darśana, implying that grace (anugraha) arises from humbly approaching the Lord; in Shaiva Siddhānta, turning toward Pati (Shiva) is the beginning of release from pāśa (bondage).

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

The desire to “see Śaṅkara” points to Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Shiva in a worshipable, accessible form; in practice this culminates in seeking Shiva’s presence through Liṅga-darśana and pūjā as a doorway to realizing His transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate darśana-bhāva: visit a Shiva temple for Liṅga-darśana, offer bilva leaves and water, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the intention of beholding Shiva inwardly and outwardly.