Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

कार्तिकेयलीलावर्णनम्

Narration of Kārttikeya’s Divine Play

Devanagari script

स्वमहो दर्शयामास देवेभ्यो हि महाद्भुतम् । सविष्णुभ्योऽखिलेभ्यश्च महोतिकरबालकः

Transliteration

svamaho darśayāmāsa devebhyo hi mahādbhutam | saviṣṇubhyo'khilebhyaśca mahotikarabālakaḥ

Translation

Cet enfant merveilleux, doté d’une radiance extraordinaire et puissante, révéla sa propre gloire stupéfiante aux dieux et à tous, y compris à Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• sva-mahaḥ: his own marvel/glory
• sva-mahaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + mahaḥ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘his own greatness/wonder’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• darśayāmāsa: showed / caused to be seen
• darśayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Causative (णिजन्त) + Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• devebhyaḥ: to the gods
• devebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निश्चय/हेतुवाचक निपात)

• mahā-adbhutam: greatly wondrous
• mahā-adbhutam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: ‘very wonderful’); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with sva-mahaḥ

• sa-viṣṇubhyaḥ: to (those) with Viṣṇu
• sa-viṣṇubhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सह-तत्पुरुष: ‘along with Viṣṇu (and others)’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Plural (बहुवचन)

• akhilebhyaḥ: to all
• akhilebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies viṣṇubhyaḥ/devebhyaḥ contextually

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

• mahotikara-bālakaḥ: the wondrous/astonishing boy
• mahotikara-bālakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahotikara (प्रातिपदिक) + bālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: ‘the boy (who is) mahotikara’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that divine glory can reveal itself even in a seemingly small form, and that the gods themselves stand as witnesses—pointing to Shiva’s supremacy as Pati, whose śakti and splendour surpass ordinary celestial power.

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

By highlighting a manifest, perceivable display of glory, it supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees approach Shiva through visible signs of grace and power (as with the Liṅga), which lead the mind toward the transcendent reality behind the form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s mahimā while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); as a simple external aid, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and remember that true power is Shiva’s grace, not merely worldly or celestial status.