Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

अथ शंभुर्महादेवो गृहीत्वा गिरिजां शिवाम् । जगाम निर्जनं स्थानं महादिव्यं मनोहरम्

Transliteration

atha śaṃbhurmahādevo gṛhītvā girijāṃ śivām | jagāma nirjanaṃ sthānaṃ mahādivyaṃ manoharam

Translation

Alors Śaṃbhu, le Grand Dieu Mahādeva, prenant Girijā—Śivā (Pārvatī)—s’en alla vers un lieu solitaire, éminemment divin et ravissant.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महादेवः: the Great God
• महादेवः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; शंभुः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having taken’

• गिरिजाम्: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शिवाम्: auspicious / Śivā (as name)
• शिवाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (गिरिजाम्)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• निर्जनम्: solitary
• निर्जनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थानम्)

• स्थानम्: place
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (destination)

• महादिव्यम्: very divine
• महादिव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थानम्)

• मनोहरम्: charming
• मनोहरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थानम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse situates Śiva and Girijā in Kailāsa’s private, transcendent space—an archetype for the ‘guhya-sthāna’ of divine union.

Significance: Models the inner withdrawal (pratyāhāra) where the Lord ‘conceals’ the world-display and turns to the śakti-svarūpa—hinting at tirodhāna preceding anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) guiding Śivā (Pārvatī) toward a sacred, secluded space—symbolic of turning away from worldly distraction (pāśa) and moving inward to divine presence, a key Shaiva Siddhānta orientation toward grace and disciplined contemplation.

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

Śiva appears here in a personal (saguṇa) mode as Śaṃbhu-Mahādeva, engaging in divine līlā. Such narratives support devotional worship of Śiva with form, which in practice culminates in Linga-upāsanā—approaching the formless Supreme through a sanctified symbol and embodied devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nirjana-bhajana—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a quiet, pure place, ideally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and remembrance of Śiva.