Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

कुमाराभिषेकवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Abhiṣeka

Consecration/Installation

Devanagari script

रम्भाद्यप्सरसो दिव्यास्स स्मिता वेषसंयुताः । संगीतनर्तनपरा बभूवुश्च शिवाज्ञया

Transliteration

rambhādyapsaraso divyāssa smitā veṣasaṃyutāḥ | saṃgītanartanaparā babhūvuśca śivājñayā

Translation

By Śiva’s command, the celestial Apsarās—beginning with Rambhā—appeared, smiling and adorned in splendid attire, wholly devoted to song and dance.

Word by Word

• रम्भा-आदि-अप्सरसः: the apsarases beginning with Rambhā
• रम्भा-आदि-अप्सरसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम्भा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (समाहार/निर्देश: ‘रम्भा-आदयः अप्सरसः’); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st), Plural; subject

• दिव्याः: divine
• दिव्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; agrees with ‘अप्सरसः’

• स्मिताः: smiling
• स्मिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित (प्रातिपदिक; past participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Kṛdanta (क्त/PPP from √स्मि/स्मि? ‘to smile’), Feminine, Nominative, Plural; ‘smiling’

• वेषसंयुताः: adorned with costumes
• वेषसंयुताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (प्रातिपदिक; PPP)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तृतीया/सह: ‘वेषेण संयुताः’ = endowed with attire); Feminine, Nominative, Plural; qualifies apsarases

• संगीतनर्तनपराः: devoted to music and dance
• संगीतनर्तनपराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संगीत (प्रातिपदिक) + नर्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (locative/ विषय: ‘संगीतनर्तने पराः’ = devoted to singing and dancing); Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• बभूवुः: became / were
• बभूवुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

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

• शिवाज्ञया: by Śiva’s command
• शिवाज्ञया: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी: ‘शिवस्य आज्ञा’); Feminine, Instrumental (3rd), Singular; instrumental of cause/agency (‘by Śiva’s command’)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rambha
• Apsaras

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) whose will governs even celestial beings; the Apsarās’ joyful, disciplined artistry becomes a form of divinely directed service rather than mere entertainment.

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

The phrase “śivājñayā” emphasizes Saguna Śiva as the personal Lord who commands and arranges auspicious events; in Linga-worship this translates into aligning one’s actions and offerings with Śiva’s ordinance (ājñā) and dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is devotional upacāra through sound—such as singing Śiva-stotras, kīrtana, or mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—offered with inner purity as service to Śiva.