Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

शिवलोकप्रवेशः

Entry into Śivaloka through successive gateways

Devanagari script

महेश्वरस्य रूपैश्च दिग्भुजैश्शुभकांतिभिः । पञ्चवक्त्रैस्त्रिनयनैश्शितिकंठमहोज्ज्वलैः

Transliteration

maheśvarasya rūpaiśca digbhujaiśśubhakāṃtibhiḥ | pañcavaktraistrinayanaiśśitikaṃṭhamahojjvalaiḥ

Translation

Ils contemplèrent les formes de Maheśvara, rayonnantes d’une splendeur de bon augure ; ses bras s’étendaient vers toutes les directions, il avait cinq visages et trois yeux, et resplendissait avec puissance comme le Seigneur à la Gorge Bleue (Nīlakaṇṭha).

Word by Word

• महेश्वरस्य: of Maheśvara
• महेश्वरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• रूपैः: with forms
• रूपैः: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दिग्भुजैः: with arms (extending to) the directions
• दिग्भुजैः: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक्-भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शुभकान्तिभिः: with auspicious splendors
• शुभकान्तिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ-कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पञ्चवक्त्रैः: with five faces
• पञ्चवक्त्रैः: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• त्रिनयनैः: with three eyes
• त्रिनयनैः: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शितिकण्ठ: blue-throated
• शितिकण्ठ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिति-कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रातिपदिक (in compound as qualifier)

• महोज्ज्वलैः: with greatly radiant (ones)
• महोज्ज्वलैः: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)
• Shitikaṇṭha (Blue-throated Shiva)

FAQs

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

The verse praises Saguna Śiva’s manifest, worship-worthy form: all-pervading (arms to the directions), all-knowing (three eyes), and complete in divine powers (five faces), revealing the Lord as the compassionate Pati who protects and illumines beings.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, this verse highlights His accessible (saguṇa) theophany—Pañcavaktra and Trinetra—supporting devotional meditation (dhyāna) on Śiva’s attributes during pūjā and liṅgārcana.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva as Pañcavaktra-Trinetra-Śitikaṇṭha while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.