Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

प्रशांतश्वापदगणं मुनिभिर्यतिभिर्वृतम् । देवालयं महामाये नानामृगगणैर्युतम्

Transliteration

praśāṃtaśvāpadagaṇaṃ munibhiryatibhirvṛtam | devālayaṃ mahāmāye nānāmṛgagaṇairyutam

Translation

Ô Mahāmāyā, c’était un sanctuaire divin où les bandes de bêtes sauvages s’étaient apaisées ; entouré de sages et d’ascètes, et rempli de troupeaux d’animaux de toutes sortes.

Word by Word

• प्रशान्त-श्वापद-गणम्: the pacified group of wild beasts
• प्रशान्त-श्वापद-गणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रशान्त (कृदन्त; √शम् (धातु) + प्र- + क्त) + श्वापद (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारयः (प्रशान्तः श्वापदगणः). पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन

• यतिभिः: by ascetics
• यतिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन

• वृतम्: surrounded
• वृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (कृदन्त; √वृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: विशेषणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (surrounded)

• देव-आलयम्: the temple (abode of the gods)
• देव-आलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: देवानाम् आलयः). पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• महा-माये: O great Māyā
• महा-माये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—कर्मधारयः (महती माया). स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• नाना-मृग-गणैः: with groups of various animals
• नाना-मृग-गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-पूर्वपद) + मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय-प्रायः: नानाविधाः मृगगणाः). पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन

• युतम्: endowed/associated
• युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (कृदन्त; √यु (धातु) / √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: विशेषणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (joined/endowed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the ‘devālaya’ where predators become tranquil is a classic sign of kṣetra-sannidhāna—Śiva as Paśupati subdues the paśu-nature (instinct, violence) through grace.

Significance: Darśana of a true śiva-kṣetra is portrayed as producing fearlessness and non-violence even among natural enemies—an allegory for the devotee’s inner pacification and release from pāśa (bondage).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the mark of a truly sacred Shaiva space: in the presence of divinity and realized beings, even violent tendencies become pacified, symbolizing the calming of the inner ‘beasts’ (passions) as bhakti and vairagya mature.

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

A devālaya (temple) signifies Saguna Shiva’s accessible presence for devotees; such presence sanctifies the environment and the mind, making it fit for Linga-worship, japa, and steady contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It supports temple-based sadhana—entering with restraint and purity, performing japa (especially Panchakshara), and meditating on calmness (śānti) so the restless instincts settle in Shiva’s presence.