Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

शिवतेजसः समुद्रे बालरूपप्रादुर्भावः (Śiva’s Tejas Manifesting as a Child in the Ocean)

Devanagari script

अपोषयन्महोपायैस्स्वबालं मुदितात्मकः । सर्वांगसुन्दरं रम्यं महाद्भुतसुतेजसम्

Transliteration

apoṣayanmahopāyaissvabālaṃ muditātmakaḥ | sarvāṃgasundaraṃ ramyaṃ mahādbhutasutejasam

Translation

心より喜びつつ、彼は最上の手立てでわが子を養い育てた。四肢ことごとく麗しく愛らしく、驚くべき吉祥の光明（テージャス）を放って輝く子であった。

Word by Word

• अपोषयत्: he nourished/raised
• अपोषयत्: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पुष् (पुष् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग अ- (here as augment of imperfect)

• महा-उपायैः: by great means/efforts
• महा-उपायैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान्तः उपायाः)

• स्व-बालम्: his own child
• स्व-बालम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वं बालम्)

• मुदित-आत्मकः: joyful in nature
• मुदित-आत्मकः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुदितः आत्मा यस्य/मुदितस्वभावः)

• सर्व-अङ्ग-सुन्दरम्: beautiful in all limbs
• सर्व-अङ्ग-सुन्दरम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषु अङ्गेषु सुन्दरम्)

• रम्यम्: charming
• रम्यम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• महा-अद्भुत-सु-तेजसम्: of exceedingly wondrous splendor
• महा-अद्भुत-सु-तेजसम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महदद्भुतं सुतेजः यस्य/यत्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights “su-tejas” (auspicious spiritual radiance) as a sign of dharmic, grace-filled life—where nurturing is not merely physical care but the protection and cultivation of sattva, purity, and divine destiny under Shiva’s providence.

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

By emphasizing beauty and wondrous tejas, the text points to Saguna divinity—Shiva’s grace manifesting in perceivable auspicious qualities. In Linga worship, devotees similarly contemplate Shiva as the source of tejas (inner light) that sanctifies and transforms embodied life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to nurture inner “su-tejas” through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining purity (śauca); optionally support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines for steadiness and auspiciousness.