Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं सुंदर वचसंयुतम् । अत्यद्भुतं महारम्यं दर्शनीयमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

koṭisūryapratīkāśaṃ suṃdara vacasaṃyutam | atyadbhutaṃ mahāramyaṃ darśanīyamanuttamam

Translation

それは千万の太陽にも似て輝き、麗しく吉祥なる相を具えていた。まことに驚異にして大いに甘美、拝観に値し、比類なきものであった。

Word by Word

• कोटि-सूर्य-प्रतीकाशम्: shining like ten million suns
• कोटि-सूर्य-प्रतीकाशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; ‘प्रतीकाश’ = resembling/appearing like

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वचः-सम्युतम्: endowed with pleasing speech/words
• वचः-सम्युतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्युत (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु, सम्-उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• अति-अद्भुतम्: exceedingly wonderful
• अति-अद्भुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावसमास

• महा-रम्यम्: very delightful
• महा-रम्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमास

• दर्शनीयम्: worthy to be seen
• दर्शनीयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) → दर्शनीय (कृदन्त; अनीयर्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; कृदन्त-भाव्य/योग्यतार्थक (अनीयर्)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा (2/1), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: theophanic brilliance (koṭi-sūrya) marking the peak of cosmogonic revelation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse exalts the overwhelming splendor of the Lord’s manifest (saguṇa) presence—His darśana awakens devotion and turns the mind away from ordinary perception toward the supreme, incomparable Reality (Pati) who grants grace.

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

By stressing ‘darśanīya’ (worthy to behold) and ‘anuttama’ (unsurpassed), it supports saguṇa-upāsanā: devotees approach Shiva through a perceivable form—commonly the Śiva-liṅga—so the finite mind can steadily contemplate the Infinite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s radiant form during japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and seek darśana through liṅga-pūjā; let the mind rest in that brilliance as a dhyāna-support for bhakti.