Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

वसन्तस्वरूपवर्णनम् — Description of the Form/Nature of Vasant

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Devanagari script

प्रमत्तेभगतिः पीनायतदोरुन्नतांसकः । कंबुग्रीवस्सुविस्तीर्णहृदयः पीनसन्मुखः

Transliteration

pramattebhagatiḥ pīnāyatadorunnatāṃsakaḥ | kaṃbugrīvassuvistīrṇahṛdayaḥ pīnasanmukhaḥ

Translation

Il avançait avec la démarche majestueuse d’un éléphant enivré; ses bras étaient longs et puissants, ses épaules larges et hautes, son cou pareil à une conque, sa poitrine vaste, et son visage plein et beau.

Word by Word

• प्रमत्त-इभ-गतिः: whose gait is like that of a rutting elephant
• प्रमत्त-इभ-गतिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमत्त (√मद् धातु + क्त) + इभ (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: प्रमत्तस्य इभस्य इव गतिः यस्य (बहुव्रीहि); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पीन-आयत-दोः-उन्नत-अंसकः: having stout long arms and raised shoulders
• पीन-आयत-दोः-उन्नत-अंसकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीन (प्रातिपदिक) + आयत (√यम् धातु + क्त) + दोस्/दोः (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्नत (√नम् धातु + क्त) + अंसक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: पीनौ आयतौ दोः यस्य, उन्नतौ अंसकौ यस्य (बहुव्रीहि); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कम्बु-ग्रीवः: having a conch-like neck
• कम्बु-ग्रीवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कम्बुवत् ग्रीवा यस्य (बहुव्रीहि); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सु-विस्तीर्ण-हृदयः: broad-chested (having a well-expanded heart/chest)
• सु-विस्तीर्ण-हृदयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + विस्तीर्ण (√स्तॄ/स्तृ धातु + क्त) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: सुविस्तीर्णं हृदयं यस्य (बहुव्रीहि); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पीन-सन्मुखः: having a full, handsome face
• पीन-सन्मुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीन (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: पीनं सन्मुखं (कर्मधारय; ‘full/plump and comely face/front’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse offers a dhyāna-oriented description of Shiva’s auspicious, saguna form, helping devotees stabilize devotion and concentrate the mind on Pati (the Lord) as the compassionate refuge who grants grace and liberation.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Shiva beyond form (nirguṇa), this verse supports saguna-upāsanā by presenting a concrete, auspicious visualization; both modes are complementary in Shaiva practice—form aids focus, and the Liṅga points to the transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the verse for dhyāna (visual contemplation) before japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids to steadiness and purity.