Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”

Devanagari script

पंचवक्त्रस्त्रिनयनो भालचन्द्रो जटाधरः । गौरवर्णो विशालाक्षो भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः

Transliteration

paṃcavaktrastrinayano bhālacandro jaṭādharaḥ | gauravarṇo viśālākṣo bhasmoddhūlitavigrahaḥ

Translation

御身は五面三眼、額には月を戴き、髪はジャターの結髪。清らかに輝く白き光を放ち、眼差しは広大で、神身は聖灰（バスマ）にて塗り清められていた。

Word by Word

• पञ्च-वक्त्रः: five-faced
• पञ्च-वक्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (पञ्च वक्त्राणि यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (महेश्वरः)

• त्रि-नयनः: three-eyed
• त्रि-नयनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि नयनानि यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भाल-चन्द्रः: having the moon on the forehead
• भाल-चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भाल (प्रातिपदिक) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भाले चन्द्रः यस्य/भालस्थ-चन्द्रः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• जटा-धरः: wearing matted hair
• जटा-धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु से)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (जटां धरति), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गौर-वर्णः: fair-complexioned
• गौर-वर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गौर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (गौरः वर्णः यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विशाल-अक्षः: large-eyed
• विशाल-अक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विशालानि अक्षीणि यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहः: whose body is smeared with ash
• भस्म-उद्धूलित-विग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धूलित (उद्+धूल् धातु से क्त) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (भस्मना उद्धूलितः विग्रहः यस्य), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose five faces signify His all-pervading lordship over the five directions and functions, while the third eye indicates transcendent knowledge that burns ignorance. The bhasma on His body teaches dispassion and the truth that all worldly forms end in ash, guiding the soul (pashu) toward liberation.

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

Although Linga worship points to the formless (Nirguna) reality, devotees approach that same Supreme through Saguna contemplation. Meditating on Shiva’s five-faced, three-eyed form and offering bhasma aligns devotion with inner purification, making external worship a gateway to realizing the Linga’s transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply sacred ash as Tripuṇḍra with reverence, remembering impermanence and surrender to Shiva; then meditate on the Trinetra Lord and repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing His moon-crested forehead and matted locks.