Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

द्वादशाभरणैर्युक्तां शृंगारैः षोडशैर्युताम् । मोहनीं सर्वलोकानां भासयंतीं दिशो दश

Transliteration

dvādaśābharaṇairyuktāṃ śṛṃgāraiḥ ṣoḍaśairyutām | mohanīṃ sarvalokānāṃ bhāsayaṃtīṃ diśo daśa

Translation

ಅವಳು ದ್ವಾದಶ ಆಭರಣಗಳಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕೃತಳಾಗಿ, ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಷೋಡಶ ಶೃಂಗಾರಗಳಿಂದ ಯುಕ್ತಳಾಗಿದ್ದಳು. ಅವಳು ಸರ್ವಲೋಕಗಳನ್ನು ಮೋಹಿಸಿ ದಶ ದಿಕ್ಕುಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಾಶಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಳು.

Word by Word

• dvādaśa-ābharaṇaiḥ: with twelve ornaments
• dvādaśa-ābharaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ābharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; samāsa: dvigu—dvādaśa ābharaṇāni (twelve ornaments)

• yuktām: adorned, endowed
• yuktām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) → yukta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kta-participle (past passive participle) meaning ‘endowed/connected’

• śṛṅgāraiḥ: with adornments/erotic embellishments
• śṛṅgāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śṛṅgāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana

• ṣoḍaśaiḥ: sixteen
• ṣoḍaśaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Bahuvacana; numeral adjective qualifying śṛṅgāraiḥ

• yutām: joined with, furnished with
• yutām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuj (धातु) → yuta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; kta-participle ‘joined with’

• mohanīm: enchanting
• mohanīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mohanī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective/noun used adjectivally

• sarva-lokānām: of all worlds/people
• sarva-lokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa—sarve lokāḥ (all worlds/people)

• bhāsayantīm: illuminating
• bhāsayantīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhās (धातु) → bhāsayantī (कृदन्त, शतृ causative)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; vartamāna-kṛdanta (present participle) of causative (ṇij) ‘causing to shine/illuminating’

• diśaḥ: the directions
• diśaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Bahuvacana; object of bhāsayantīm

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Numeral) used indeclinably here; qualifies diśaḥ as ‘ten’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays the Goddess’s Saguna (manifest) splendor—her divine beauty is not mere sensuality but a sacred radiance that captivates the worlds and points devotees toward the auspicious power (Śakti) inseparable from Shiva.

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

In Shaiva worship, Shiva is never isolated from Śakti; describing Sati’s luminous form supports Saguna devotion, where devotees approach the Supreme through sacred form, qualities, and divine presence—culminating in reverence for Shiva as Pati with His Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is form-based meditation (dhyāna) on the divine couple’s auspicious radiance, paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating purity of perception and devotional steadiness.