Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

समयं प्राप्य सस्त्रीकावावां ब्रह्मन्न शंकरः । अवतीर्णस्स्वयं रुद्रनामा कैलाससंश्रयः

Transliteration

samayaṃ prāpya sastrīkāvāvāṃ brahmanna śaṃkaraḥ | avatīrṇassvayaṃ rudranāmā kailāsasaṃśrayaḥ

Translation

Ô Brahmā, lorsque le temps convenable advint, Śaṅkara lui-même descendit, portant le nom de Rudra, et prit demeure au Kailāsa avec sa divine épouse.

Word by Word

• समयम्: the time
• समयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having obtained/reached
• प्राप्य: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• स: with
• स: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन? (agreeing with implied dual)

• स्त्रीकौ: (the two) with wives
• स्त्रीकौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रीक (प्रातिपदिक; स्त्री + क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘having wives’ (two)

• आवाम्: we two
• आवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmā
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अवतीर्णः: descended/incarnated
• अवतीर्णः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used predicatively; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• रुद्रनामा: named Rudra
• रुद्रनामा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘whose name is Rudra’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कैलाससंश्रयः: dwelling in/attached to Kailāsa
• कैलाससंश्रयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कैलासे संश्रयः/कैलास-आश्रय); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudra Samhita account to the sages, addressing Brahma within the narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kailāsa-abode motif: Śiva as Himālaya-nivāsī; later sthala traditions identify Kedāra as a Himalayan seat where Śiva abides and grants darśana to restore dharma.

Significance: Darśana of the Himalayan Śiva as Rudra; purification and merit through arduous yātrā; strong association with pāpa-kṣaya and steadfastness in dharma.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Kailasa
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) who freely manifests as Rudra at the destined time, making His grace accessible through a concrete, worshipful presence—Kailāsa—while remaining transcendent.

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

By stating that Śaṅkara ‘descended’ as Rudra and took an abode, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with form and attributes—commonly expressed through Linga worship and meditation on Kailāsa as His divine seat.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra-Śiva enthroned on Kailāsa, recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate devotion (bhakti) to the Lord who manifests in time for the uplift of beings.