Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

देवाः वैकुण्ठगमनम् तथा विष्णोः अवतारस्तुतिः | Devas Go to Vaikuṇṭha and Praise Viṣṇu’s Avatāras

Devanagari script

नमस्ते ज्ञानगूढाय कृष्णाय परमात्मन । राधाविहारशीलाय नानालीलाकराय च

Transliteration

namaste jñānagūḍhāya kṛṣṇāya paramātmana | rādhāvihāraśīlāya nānālīlākarāya ca

Translation

Hommage à Toi—Kṛṣṇa, le Soi suprême—dont la connaissance véritable demeure profondément voilée; Toi qui te réjouis des līlās avec Rādhā et déploies d’innombrables jeux divins.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable interjection); नमः + चतुर्थी (dative) construction

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; enclitic form

• ज्ञानगूढाय: to the one hidden in/through knowledge
• ज्ञानगूढाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + गूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञाने गूढः/ज्ञानस्य गूढः)

• कृष्णाय: to Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• परमात्मने: to the Supreme Self
• परमात्मने: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः आत्मा)

• राधाविहारशीलाय: to one whose nature is to sport with Rādhā
• राधाविहारशीलाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राधा + विहार + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राधायाः विहारः यस्य शीलम्/स्वभावः)

• नानालीलाकराय: to the doer of many divine plays
• नानालीलाकराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना + लीला + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नानाः लीलाः करोति)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the hymn/praise as part of the Yuddhakhaṇḍa discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमस्ते ज्ञानगूढाय कृष्णाय परमात्मन । राधाविहारशीलाय नानालीलाकराय च

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Līlā-theology: the Absolute veils jñāna (tirodhāna) and reveals through play; springtime mood implied by rāsa/vihāra aesthetics (not explicit in verse)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Radha
• Paramatman

FAQs

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

The verse praises the Supreme Reality as both transcendent (Paramātman, whose wisdom is subtle and hidden) and immanent (actively revealing grace through divine līlā), emphasizing devotion as a doorway to deeper knowledge.

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

In a Shaiva reading, it reflects the Saguna approach: the ineffable Absolute is approached through name, form, and qualities—just as devotees worship Śiva through the Liṅga, while recognizing Him as the inner Paramātman beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice reverential salutation (namas) with japa and contemplation: repeat a chosen divine name with one-pointed bhakti, and meditate on the Paramātman as the indwelling Lord revealed through sacred līlā.