Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 86

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशैर्विमानैः सर्वकामगैः । रुद्रकन्यासमाकीर्णैर्गेयवाद्यसमन्वितैः

Transliteration

sūryakoṭipratīkāśairvimānaiḥ sarvakāmagaiḥ | rudrakanyāsamākīrṇairgeyavādyasamanvitaiḥ

Translation

There were celestial aerial chariots, radiant as tens of millions of suns, moving at will to fulfill every desire—crowded with the maidens of Rudra and accompanied by songs and instrumental music.

Word by Word

• sūryakoṭipratīkāśaiḥ: with (those) having the brilliance of ten million suns
• sūryakoṭipratīkāśaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya + koṭi + pratīkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सूर्यकोट्या प्रतीकाशः येषाम्) विशेषण

• vimānaiḥ: with aerial chariots
• vimānaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vimāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• sarvakāmagaiḥ: fulfilling all desires / going to all desired (places)
• sarvakāmagaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + kāma + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वान् कामान् गच्छन्ति/प्राप्नुवन्ति ये) विशेषण

• rudrakanyāsamākīrṇaiḥ: filled with Rudra’s maidens
• rudrakanyāsamākīrṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudra + kanyā + sam-√kṝ (कॄ धातु) → samākīrṇa (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (रुद्रकन्याभिः समाकीर्णैः) विशेषण

• geyavādyasamanvitaiḥ: accompanied by songs and instruments
• geyavādyasamanvitaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: geya + vādya + sam-√vidh/√i (सम्-√इ/समन्वि धात्वर्थ) → samanvita (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (गेयम् च वाद्यम् च) + तत्पुरुष (तेन समन्वितैः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the overwhelming splendor that surrounds Rudra’s divine sphere, indicating that proximity to Śiva (Pati) brings auspiciousness, joy, and effortless fulfillment—yet these marvels remain secondary to liberation, which comes through devotion and grace.

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

Such descriptions support Saguna worship by portraying Śiva’s manifest glory and attendants; they encourage the devotee to approach the Linga with reverence, understanding it as the accessible form through which the transcendent Lord bestows blessings and uplifts the soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate bhakti through Śiva-stuti (hymns), kīrtana (sacred singing), and mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—treating devotional sound as an offering akin to the verse’s geya and vādya.