Shloka 31

एकादशरुद्रावतारकथनम् / Account of the Eleven Rudra Manifestations

Rudrāvatāras

Devanagari script

ऐशान्याम्पुरि ते वासं चक्रिरे भक्तवत्सलाः । विरमन्ते सदा तत्र नानालीलाविशारदाः

Transliteration

aiśānyāmpuri te vāsaṃ cakrire bhaktavatsalāḥ | viramante sadā tatra nānālīlāviśāradāḥ

Translation

Those devotees—ever affectionate to the bhaktas—made their dwelling in that northeastern city. Always abiding there, they continually delighted in manifold divine sports, being fully adept in many sacred līlās.

Word by Word

• aiśānyām: in the Īśāna (northeast) quarter
• aiśānyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• puri: in the city
• puri: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• vāsaṃ: dwelling, residence
• vāsaṃ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• cakrire: they made/established
• cakrire: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• bhakta-vatsalāḥ: affectionate to devotees
• bhakta-vatsalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative): भक्तानां वत्सलाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• viramante: they sport/relax; they desist (here: remain at ease)
• viramante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ram (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• nānā-līlā-viśāradāḥ: skilled in various sports/plays
• nānā-līlā-viśāradāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Determinative): नानाविधासु लीलासु विशारदाः; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse situates Śiva’s retinue/devotee-community in the Aiśānya (Īśāna) quarter—symbolically the northern-eastern direction of auspiciousness and Īśāna-tattva—rather than narrating a specific Jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Directional contemplation of Īśāna (NE) is used in Śaiva praxis for invoking Śiva’s preserving/overseeing presence and for stabilizing devotion (bhakti-niṣṭhā).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that proximity to the Lord’s auspicious sphere (Īśāna direction) and steady dwelling in His presence is sustained by bhakti; the devotees remain absorbed in sacred līlā-remembrance, which purifies the bonds (pāśa) and turns the mind toward Pati, Shiva.

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

By highlighting divine līlā and the Lord’s bhakta-vātsalya, it points to Saguna Shiva—worshipped through form (such as the Liṅga) and presence—where devotion, service, and remembrance become living communion rather than mere concept.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady residence of the mind in Shiva’s presence through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and daily Liṅga-upāsanā; if following tradition, support it with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to continuous remembrance.