Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63

नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्

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

Devanagari script

अलब्धच्छिद्रमदनो जिगाय गिरिशं न यम् । सर्वैः पुष्पमयैर्बाणैर्यत्नं कृत्वापि भूरिशः

Transliteration

alabdhacchidramadano jigāya giriśaṃ na yam | sarvaiḥ puṣpamayairbāṇairyatnaṃ kṛtvāpi bhūriśaḥ

Translation

«Même Madana (Kāma), malgré de grands efforts et après avoir décoché toutes ses flèches de fleurs, ne put trouver en Girīśa (le Seigneur Śiva) la moindre faille pour Le vaincre.»

Word by Word

• अलब्ध-छिद्रः: (one) with no flaw found
• अलब्ध-छिद्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + लब्ध (√लभ्, क्त कृदन्त) + छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि ‘one by whom no opening/weakness was found’ (qualifying मदनः)

• मदनः: Madana (Kāma)
• मदनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जिगाय: conquered
• जिगाय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• गिरिशम्: Giriśa (Śiva)
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘lord of the mountain(s)’

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying bāṇaiḥ)

• पुष्प-मयैः: flower-made
• पुष्प-मयैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तृतीया-समर्थ विशेषण ‘made of flowers’

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• यत्नम्: effort
• यत्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund); ‘having made/done’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive/also)

• भूरिशः: abundantly/much
• भूरिशः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूरिशस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Madana)

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva’s absolute mastery over kāma (desire): even the cosmic force of attraction cannot pierce His inner steadiness. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, Pati (Śiva) is untouched by pāśa, showing devotees that liberation requires transcending desire through devotion and yogic restraint.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva as Girīśa—personally present yet invincible to worldly impulses. Linga-worship trains the mind to become one-pointed (ekāgra), so the devotee’s consciousness becomes less ‘pierceable’ by desire, mirroring Śiva’s unassailable composure.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with breath awareness, and observe self-restraint (brahmacarya/indriya-nigraha). On Mahāśivarātri, combine night vigil with Linga abhiṣeka and inward contemplation to weaken kāma’s influence.