Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

शिवोपि मुदितोत्यर्थं स्वपत्न्या दक्षकन्यया । हिमवत्प्रस्थसंस्थो हि विजहार भवानुगः

Transliteration

śivopi muditotyarthaṃ svapatnyā dakṣakanyayā | himavatprasthasaṃstho hi vijahāra bhavānugaḥ

Translation

Le Seigneur Śiva aussi, comblé d’une joie extrême auprès de sa propre épouse, la fille de Dakṣa, demeura sur les pentes de l’Himavān et s’y divertit, en accord avec ses dévots et selon l’ordonnance de Bhava, le Souverain suprême.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Shiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अवधानार्थक (particle: 'also')

• मुदितः: delighted
• मुदितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शिवः)

• अत्यर्थम्: exceedingly
• अत्यर्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यर्थ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक (adverb: 'exceedingly')

• स्व-पत्न्या: with his own wife
• स्व-पत्न्या: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (स्वा पत्नी)

• दक्ष-कन्यया: with Daksha's daughter
• दक्ष-कन्यया: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष + कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दक्षस्य कन्या)

• हिमवत्-प्रस्थ-संस्थः: dwelling on the slopes of Himavat
• हिमवत्-प्रस्थ-संस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिमवत् + प्रस्थ + संस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हिमवतः प्रस्थे संस्थः = स्थितः); विशेषणम् (शिवः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: emphasis/indeed)

• विजहार: enjoyed/sported
• विजहार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• भवानुगः: a follower of Bhava (Shiva)
• भवानुगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + अनुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भवस्य अनुगः = शिवस्य अनुचरः/अनुयायी)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: The verse situates Śiva’s divine play on Himavān’s slopes; in later Śaiva sacred geography this Himalayan setting resonates with Kedāra as Śiva’s mountain-abode and tapas-kṣetra, though the verse itself is not a Jyotirliṅga māhātmya.

Significance: Darśana in the Himalayan realm symbolizes approach to Śiva as Pati beyond worldly bonds; pilgrimage is framed as purification and steadiness of bhakti amid austerity.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Daksha
• Himavan

FAQs

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

It shows Saguna Śiva’s compassionate accessibility: though Supreme (Pati), He joyfully abides with Satī and sanctifies the Himalayas through divine līlā, teaching that devotion (bhakti) flourishes through loving remembrance of the Lord’s presence in the world.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Bhava—who can be approached through form, place, and story. For devotees, līlā supports focused worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) by giving the mind a sacred, personal anchor for reverence and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady स्मरण (remembrance) of Śiva with devotion—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing Śiva’s peaceful Himalayan abode; this supports inner calm, purity, and bhakti-centered meditation.