Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

नृत्यद्भिरिव शाखोटैर्वर्जयंतं स्वसंभवम् । कामदेवैस्सारसैश्च मत्तचक्रांगशोभितैः

Transliteration

nṛtyadbhiriva śākhoṭairvarjayaṃtaṃ svasaṃbhavam | kāmadevaissārasaiśca mattacakrāṃgaśobhitaiḥ

Translation

Comme si les branches elles-mêmes dansaient, elles semblaient repousser leur propre progéniture ; et le paysage était orné d’oiseaux qui éveillent l’amour—grues et semblables—ainsi que de cakravāka, ivres d’allégresse, resplendissants de beauté.

Word by Word

• नृत्यद्भिः: dancing
• नृत्यद्भिः: विशेषण (Adjectival to शाखोटैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृत्यत् (कृदन्त; नृत् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इव: as if, like
• इव: उपमान (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• शाखोटैः: with branches/boughs
• शाखोटैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखोट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वर्जयन्तम्: avoiding, shunning
• वर्जयन्तम्: कर्मणि-विशेषण (Qualifier of implied object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्जयन्त् (कृदन्त; वर्ज् धातु, णिच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (यम्) वर्जयन्तम् = avoiding (him/it)

• स्वसम्भवम्: their own origin/source
• स्वसम्भवम्: कर्म (Object of वर्जयन्तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वसम्भव (प्रातिपदिक; स्व+सम्भव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य सम्भवः)

• कामदेवैः: with love-gods (i.e., love-inducing ones)
• कामदेवैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामदेव (प्रातिपदिक; काम+देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (कामस्य देवः)

• सारसैः: with cranes (sārasa birds)
• सारसैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मत्तचक्राङ्गशोभितैः: adorned by intoxicated cakravāka birds
• मत्तचक्राङ्गशोभितैः: विशेषण (Adjectival to सारसैः/कामदेवैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत्तचक्राङ्गशोभित (कृदन्त; मत्त+चक्राङ्ग+शोभित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘शोभित’; तत्पुरुष (मत्तैः चक्राङ्गैः शोभितैः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

The verse paints a vivid world of beauty and desire, highlighting how creation naturally displays kāma (attraction). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such beauty is acknowledged yet ultimately transcended by devotion to Pati (Shiva), cultivating discernment and dispassion while moving toward liberation.

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

By contrasting sensory charm with the higher aim of Shiva-bhakti, it supports the Shaiva move from fascination with worldly forms to focused worship of Saguna Shiva (including the Linga), where the mind is gathered from scattering desires into single-pointed devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint with mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and/or wearing rudrākṣa to steady the mind when confronted by desire-stimulating impressions.