Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

प्रकृतितत्त्व-विचारः / Inquiry into Prakṛti (Nature/Śakti) and Śiva’s Transcendence

Devanagari script

नाग्रहीद्गिरिशः कालीं भार्यार्थे निकटे स्थिताम् । महालावण्यनिचयां मुनीनामपि मोहिनीम्

Transliteration

nāgrahīdgiriśaḥ kālīṃ bhāryārthe nikaṭe sthitām | mahālāvaṇyanicayāṃ munīnāmapi mohinīm

Translation

Yet Girīśa (Lord Śiva) did not accept Kāli—who stood close by with the intent of becoming his wife—though she was a treasury of great beauty, enchanting even the sages.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• agrahīt: accepted/took
• agrahīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: grah (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• giriśaḥ: Lord of the mountain (Śiva)
• giriśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक)+īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kālīm: Kālī
• kālīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhārya-arthe: for (the purpose of) a wife
• bhārya-arthe: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)+artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); purpose-sense ‘for (the purpose of) wife’

• nikaṭe: near/nearby
• nikaṭe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nikaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthitām: standing (there)
• sthitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (प्रातिपदिक; √sthā क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-lāvaṇya-nicayām: a great heap of beauty
• mahā-lāvaṇya-nicayām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक)+lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)+nicaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• munīnām: of sages
• munīnām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive ‘even/also’

• mohinīm: enchantress/deluder
• mohinīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kali

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s supreme vairāgya (dispassion): even extraordinary beauty that can delude sages cannot sway the Pati (Lord). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, it underscores the Lord’s freedom from pāśa (bondage) and models inner mastery for the seeker.

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

It supports Saguna Śiva worship by portraying His divine conduct (ācāra) as exemplary—unmoved by kāma and appearances. Linga worship similarly trains the devotee to see beyond form and attraction, directing attention to Śiva as the transcendent Pati who grants liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of restraint (brahmacarya/indriya-nigraha). On Mahāśivarātri, combine mantra-japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and inward contemplation of Śiva as the witness beyond desire.