Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

विचित्ररूपैः कमलैः शिखरं रत्नकर्बुरम् । बालार्कसदृशं शंभुराससाद सतीसखः

Transliteration

vicitrarūpaiḥ kamalaiḥ śikharaṃ ratnakarburam | bālārkasadṛśaṃ śaṃbhurāsasāda satīsakhaḥ

Translation

सती के साथ रहने वाले शंभु उस शिखर पर पहुँचे, जो विचित्र रूपों वाले कमलों से सुशोभित, रत्नों से चित्रित-सा, और नवोदय सूर्य के समान तेजस्वी था।

Word by Word

• vicitra-rūpaiḥ: of varied forms
• vicitra-rūpaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; कर्मधारयः ‘विचित्राणि रूपाणि येषाम्’ → ‘of varied forms’ (instrumental plural qualifying kamalaiḥ)

• kamalaiḥ: with lotuses
• kamalaiḥ: Sādhana/Upakaraṇa (साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kamala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• śikharam: peak / summit
• śikharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ratna-karburam: mottled/variegated with gems
• ratna-karburam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + karbura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘रत्नैः कर्बुरम्’ (variegated with gems) qualifying śikharam

• bāla-arka-sadṛśam: like the rising sun
• bāla-arka-sadṛśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘बालार्कस्य सदृशम्’ (like the rising sun) qualifying śikharam

• śaṃbhuḥ: Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• āsasāda: reached / approached
• āsasāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sad (धाातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• satī-sakhaḥ: Satī’s friend
• satī-sakhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक) + sakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘सत्याः सखा’ (friend of Satī) apposition to śaṃbhuḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva’s auspicious, perceivable (saguṇa) splendor—like the rising sun—showing how divine grace becomes visible to the devoted, and how sacred space (a gem-bright summit) mirrors inner luminosity awakened by bhakti.

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

By depicting Śambhu as radiant and approachable in a beautiful, sanctified setting, the text supports saguṇa-upāsanā—worship of Śiva with form and qualities—through which devotees steadily mature toward the formless (nirguṇa) reality that the Liṅga ultimately signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva’s tejas (sun-like radiance) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing the mind as a lotus offered at His feet.