Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

वसन्तस्वरूपवर्णनम् — Description of the Form/Nature of Vasant

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Devanagari script

शार्ङ्गवच्चरणावर्त्तश्श्यामकुंचितमूर्द्धजः । संध्यांशुमालिसदृशः कुडलद्वयमंडितः

Transliteration

śārṅgavaccaraṇāvarttaśśyāmakuṃcitamūrddhajaḥ | saṃdhyāṃśumālisadṛśaḥ kuḍaladvayamaṃḍitaḥ

Translation

御足は弓のように優美に反り、黒き巻き毛は頭上にまとめられていた。黄昏の光の花鬘のごとく輝き、左右一対の耳飾りを戴く——それはシヴァの有相（サグナ）の威徳を示し、その御姿は束縛された魂をバクティと解脱へと誘う。

Word by Word

• शार्ङ्गवत्: like (Śārṅga)
• शार्ङ्गवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमानवाचक ‘-वत्’), ‘like Śārṅga (bow)’

• चरण-आवर्तः: curl/whorl at the feet (foot-whorl)
• चरण-आवर्तः: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: चरणस्य आवर्तः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्याम-कुञ्चित-मूर्धजः: whose hair is dark and curly
• श्याम-कुञ्चित-मूर्धजः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक) + कुञ्चित (√कुञ्च् धातु + क्त) + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: श्यामाḥ कुञ्चिताḥ मूर्धजाः यस्य (बहुव्रीहि); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संध्या-अंशु-मालि-सदृशः: resembling the sun with rays at twilight
• संध्या-अंशु-मालि-सदृशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: संध्यायाः अंशुमालिनः सदृशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुडल-द्वय-मण्डितः: adorned with a pair of earrings
• कुडल-द्वय-मण्डितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुडल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डित (√मण्ड् धातु + क्त)
• Form: समास: कुडलेन द्वयेन मण्डितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष); क्त-कृदन्त, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva’s auspicious, perceivable (Saguna) form as a compassionate doorway for the soul: contemplating His divine beauty steadies the mind, awakens devotion, and orients the seeker toward liberation under the Lord’s grace.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Śiva beyond form, this verse supports Saguna-upāsanā by detailing His iconographic marks; both approaches converge in Shaiva devotion—form leads the mind to the formless reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna (visual meditation) on Śiva’s auspicious limbs and ornaments while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” using it to gather attention and cultivate reverence before worship.