Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्

Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance

Devanagari script

वीरिणी तां समालिंग्य स्वसुतां प्रीतिवर्द्धिनीम् । मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय मुदिता प्रशशंस मुहुर्मुहुः

Transliteration

vīriṇī tāṃ samāliṃgya svasutāṃ prītivarddhinīm | mūrdhnyupāghrāya muditā praśaśaṃsa muhurmuhuḥ

Translation

Vīriṇī étreignit sa propre fille, qui faisait croître sa joie et son affection. Ravie, elle baisa (respira le parfum) le sommet de sa tête et la loua encore et encore.

Word by Word

• वीरिणी: the lady Vīriṇī
• वीरिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सम्: together/fully (prefix)
• सम्: Upasarga (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb)

• आलिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• आलिङ्ग्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√लिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having embraced’

• स्व: own
• स्व: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-पूर्वपद (indeclinable-like adjectival stem), समासपूर्वपद; ‘own’

• सुताम्: daughter
• सुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रीति: affection/joy
• प्रीति: Samāsa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual stem in compound), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• वर्द्धिनीम्: increasing (her) affection
• वर्द्धिनीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्द्धिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—प्रीतिवर्द्धिनी (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/‘प्रीतेः वर्द्धिनी’ = increasing affection)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• उपाघ्राय: having smelled (her head)
• उपाघ्राय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ√घ्रा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; ‘having smelled/kissed (by smelling)’

• मुदिता: delighted
• मुदिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित (प्रातिपदिक; √मुद्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally)

• प्रशशंस: praised
• प्रशशंस: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदी, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Daksha
• Virini

FAQs

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

It highlights śuddha-bhāva (pure, uncalculating affection) expressed through loving gestures and praise—an outward sign of inner auspiciousness (maṅgala) that supports dharmic life and devotion in the Shaiva narrative.

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

Though not a direct ritual verse, it frames the human setting in which devotion to Saguna Shiva unfolds: loving reverence and repeated praise (stuti) mirror the devotee’s attitude toward Shiva’s gracious, approachable form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is repeated stuti and affectionate remembrance—practically expressed as daily Shiva-nāma-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering heartfelt praise, cultivating a gentle, sattvic mind suited for worship.