Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

रुद्रस्य परमात्मत्वे ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वादिसंशयप्रश्नः — Questions on Rudra’s Supremacy and His ‘Sonship’ to Brahmā

Devanagari script

चतुर्भुजमुदारांगं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् । शंखचक्रधरं सौम्यं चन्द्रबिंबसमाननम्

Transliteration

caturbhujamudārāṃgaṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam | śaṃkhacakradharaṃ saumyaṃ candrabiṃbasamānanam

Translation

四臂にして肢体は気高く、あらゆる宝飾に荘厳され、法螺と円盤を執り、やわらかな威光をたたえ、御顔は満月の輪のごとくであった。

Word by Word

• catur-bhujam: four-armed
• catur-bhujam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu adjective qualifying the implied deity

• udāra-aṅgam: noble-limbed
• udāra-aṅgam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying the implied deity

• sarva-ābharaṇa-bhūṣitam: adorned with all ornaments
• sarva-ābharaṇa-bhūṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past participial adjective (क्त) from √bhūṣ; 'adorned with all ornaments'

• śaṅkha-cakra-dharam: bearing conch and discus
• śaṅkha-cakra-dharam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'bearing conch and discus' (dvandva of objects + dhara)

• saumyam: gentle/pleasant
• saumyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• candra-bimba-sama-ānanam: moon-disc-faced
• candra-bimba-sama-ānanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + bimba (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'having a face like the moon-disc'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It presents a vivid saguna-darśana (devotional vision) of the divine—serenity, auspicious marks, and sacred emblems—showing that contemplative remembrance of a gracious form steadies the mind and supports the Shaiva aim of liberation through devotion and right knowledge.

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

Though the described iconography is Vaiṣṇava (conch and discus), the Shiva Purana frequently uses such descriptions to affirm that saguna forms are valid supports for worship; in Shaiva Siddhanta, they function as aids that mature devotion toward realizing Pati (the Supreme Lord) beyond limiting bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyāna (meditation) on an auspicious, serene divine form—combined with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—is implied as a practical takeaway for stabilizing devotion and inner purity.