Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

विष्णोर्दर्शनं स्तुतिश्च

Viṣṇu’s Manifestation and Brahmā’s Hymn

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजोरविंदाक्षः शंरववार्ज गदाधरः । लसत्पीत पटश्श्यामतनुर्भक्तप्रियो हरिः

Transliteration

caturbhujoraviṃdākṣaḥ śaṃravavārja gadādharaḥ | lasatpīta paṭaśśyāmatanurbhaktapriyo hariḥ

Translation

ハリは四臂にして蓮華眼、法螺・円盤・棍棒を執り、輝く黄衣をまとい、身は深き黒色に光った。彼は常に帰依者に愛される御方である。

Word by Word

• चतुर्भुजः: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (चत्वारः भुजाः यस्य)

• अरविंदाक्षः: lotus-eyed
• अरविंदाक्षः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरविन्द + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (अरविन्दसदृशे अक्षिणी यस्य)

• शंरववार्ज: (unclear reading)
• शंरववार्ज: अनिर्णीत (Uncertain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: (पाठदोष/अस्पष्ट)
• Form: पाठे 'śaṃravavārja' अस्पष्टः; सम्भाव्यः विशेषण/नाम; निश्चित-रूपनिर्णय हेतु शुद्ध-पाठ अपेक्षित

• गदाधरः: bearing a mace
• गदाधरः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदा + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गदां धरति)

• लसत्पीत: shining yellow
• लसत्पीत: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लसत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-विशेषणरूपे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); कर्मधारय (लसत् पीतम्)

• पटः: cloth/garment
• पटः: सम्बन्ध (Descriptive element)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (समासाङ्ग/विग्रहे वस्त्रः)

• श्यामतनुः: dark-bodied
• श्यामतनुः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (श्यामा तनुः यस्य)

• भक्तप्रियः: dear to devotees
• भक्तप्रियः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भक्तानां प्रियः / भक्तेषु प्रियः)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari

FAQs

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

The verse highlights saguna-dhyāna—contemplation of the Lord with attributes—showing that divine grace responds to bhakti. In Shaiva understanding, such devotion ultimately matures into surrender to Pati (Shiva) who grants liberation, while honoring other deities as exalted forms within the cosmic order.

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

By describing Hari’s iconographic marks, the text models how form-based worship steadies the mind. Likewise, the Shiva-liṅga is the primary saguna support for meditation in Shaiva practice—an outward symbol guiding the devotee toward Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond all limiting attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It supports dhyāna with clear visual attributes (lotus eyes, four arms, weapons, garment) combined with bhakti. A Shaiva takeaway is to pair such remembrance with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple worship (archana) to cultivate one-pointed devotion.