Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin

Devanagari script

मदाज्ञया हृषीकेशो कृष्णरूपं विधाय च । गोशालायां स्थितो रम्ये गोलोके मदधिष्ठिते

Transliteration

madājñayā hṛṣīkeśo kṛṣṇarūpaṃ vidhāya ca | gośālāyāṃ sthito ramye goloke madadhiṣṭhite

Translation

« Par mon ordre, Hṛṣīkeśa prit la forme de Kṛṣṇa et demeura dans l’étable des vaches, en ce Goloka délicieux qui se tient sous ma souveraine présidence. »

Word by Word

• मत्-आज्ञया: by my command
• मत्-आज्ञया: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘मत्’ = मम (of me) + ‘आज्ञा’ = command; Instrumental sense: ‘by/through my command’

• हृषीकेशः: Hṛṣīkeśa (Viṣṇu)
• हृषीकेशः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कृष्ण-रूपम्: the form of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण-रूपम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (descriptive/determinative): ‘कृष्णस्य रूपम्’ / ‘कृष्णं रूपम्’

• विधाय: having assumed/made
• विधाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having made/assumed’

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• गो-शालायाम्: in the cowshed
• गो-शालायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + शाला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘गवां शाला’ (cowshed)

• स्थितः: stood/remained
• स्थितः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘standing/remaining’

• रम्ये: beautiful
• रम्ये: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying) for ‘गोलोके’

• गोलोके: in Goloka
• गोलोके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• मत्-अधिष्ठिते: ruled by me
• मत्-अधिष्ठिते: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अधिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, अधि-स्था धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘मया अधिष्ठिते’ (ruled/overseen by me); agrees with ‘गोलोके’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra) (inferred narrator within Rudrasaṃhitā context, asserting his command over cosmic functions)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Krishna
• Goloka

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Śiva as the supreme regulator (Pati) whose will directs even exalted deities; devotion matures when one recognizes all divine manifestations as functioning within Śiva’s higher sovereignty.

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

By presenting Śiva as the presiding authority behind divine forms, it supports Saguna worship—seeing Śiva’s lordship reflected through forms—while the Liṅga remains the emblem of the ultimate, transcendent source beyond all forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice inward surrender (śaraṇāgati) while japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating that all powers and forms act by Śiva’s command; optionally accompany with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of Śiva’s supreme reality.