Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

वैवाहिकानुष्ठानसमापनं दानप्रशंसा च / Completion of Wedding Rites and Praise of Gifts

Dāna

Devanagari script

ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्यं सकटाक्षं सुसुन्दरम् । सुसूक्ष्मवासो बिभ्राणं नानारत्न विभूषितम्

Transliteration

īṣaddhāsyaprasannāsyaṃ sakaṭākṣaṃ susundaram | susūkṣmavāso bibhrāṇaṃ nānāratna vibhūṣitam

Translation

Il apparut d’une beauté incomparable : le visage paisible, éclairé d’un léger sourire, les yeux jetant de gracieuses œillades; il portait des vêtements d’une extrême finesse et était paré d’ornements sertis de gemmes de toutes sortes.

Word by Word

• īṣat-hāsya-prasanna-āsyam: having a gently smiling, pleased face
• īṣat-hāsya-prasanna-āsyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īṣat (अव्यय) + hāsya (प्रातिपदिक) + prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-समास (कर्मधारय) — Neuter, Acc/Nom, Singular; adjectival compound

• sa-kaṭa-akṣam: with sidelong/glancing eyes
• sa-kaṭa-akṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गार्थ) + kaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास — Neuter, Acc/Nom, Singular; tatpuruṣa compound

• su-sundaram: very beautiful
• su-sundaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण — Neuter, Acc/Nom, Singular; adjective

• su-sūkṣma-vāsaḥ: wearing very fine garments
• su-sūkṣma-vāsaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास — Masculine, Acc/Nom, Singular; tatpuruṣa compound

• bibhrāṇam: bearing/wearing
• bibhrāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन — Present active participle; Neuter, Acc/Nom, Singular

• nānā-ratna: with various jewels
• nānā-ratna: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थे समासाङ्ग; (विभूषितम् इति सह) — Neuter stem used adjectivally; karmadhāraya-like ‘various jewels’

• vibhūṣitam: adorned
• vibhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-bhūṣ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि/कर्मवाच्य; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past participle; Neuter, Acc/Nom, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s accessible, grace-filled Saguna form—serene, smiling, and beautiful—showing that divine compassion (anugraha) is central to liberation when approached with devotion.

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

While the Linga signifies Shiva’s transcendence, this description supports Saguna upāsanā—contemplating Shiva’s auspicious attributes and form—so the devotee’s mind becomes steady, pure, and receptive to Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna by visualizing Shiva’s calm face and gentle smile while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” letting the mind rest in devotion and inner stillness.