Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

सर्वेश्वरो महादेवो जगाम गिरिजालयम् । संस्थाप्य नोऽत्र सुप्रीत्या रानालीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

sarveśvaro mahādevo jagāma girijālayam | saṃsthāpya no'tra suprītyā rānālīlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

ಸರ್ವೇಶ್ವರನಾದ ಮಹಾದೇವನು ಗಿರಿಜೆಯ ಆಲಯಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋದನು. ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಾಪ್ರೀತಿಯಿಂದ ನೆಲೆಗೊಳಿಸಿ, ದಿವ್ಯಲೀಲೆಗೆ ನಿಪುಣನಾದ ಅವನು ಹೊರಟನು।

Word by Word

• सर्वेश्वरः: the Lord of all
• सर्वेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषाम् ईश्वरः)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to सर्वेश्वरः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गिरिजालयम्: to Girijā’s abode (Pārvatī’s dwelling)
• गिरिजालयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा-आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गिरिजायाः आलयः)

• संस्थाप्य: having established/placed
• संस्थाप्य: Purvakriya (पूर्वक्रिया/Preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया (having established/placed)

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन (enclitic); ‘our’

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• सुप्रीत्या: with great affection
• सुप्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (as cause/manner)

• राना-लीला-विशारदः: one skilled in rānā-līlā (a kind of sport/play)
• राना-लीला-विशारदः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition/epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राना + लीला + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रानालीलायां विशारदः = skilled in the play/sport called rānā-līlā)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva departs to Girijā’s abode (Kailāsa/Himālaya setting), leaving gaṇas stationed—an etiological note for the locale of the episode rather than a Jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Remembrance of Śiva’s līlā and devotion to Umā–Maheśvara; cultivating śiva-prīti and surrender.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati (Girija)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Sarveśvara who compassionately “settles” devotees in a protected spiritual setting, showing that divine grace and līlā guide beings toward steadiness (sthiti) and devotion.

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

By portraying Mahādeva’s personal movement and affectionate care, it supports Saguna-upāsanā—worship of Śiva with form and qualities—through loving remembrance and service, which in Shaiva Siddhānta matures into knowledge of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice bhakti-filled smaraṇa (remembrance) of Mahādeva with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids to steadiness and devotion.