Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra

Devanagari script

बभूव पुष्पवृष्टिश्च शिवस्योपरि संततम् । प्रशशंस हरिर्ब्रह्मा शक्राद्या मुनयस्तथा

Transliteration

babhūva puṣpavṛṣṭiśca śivasyopari saṃtatam | praśaśaṃsa harirbrahmā śakrādyā munayastathā

Translation

ຝົນດອກໄມ້ຕົກລົງເຫນືອພຣະສິວະຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ. ຮະຣິ (ວິສນຸ), ພຣະພຣະຫມາ, ອິນທຣາ ພ້ອມທັງເທວະອື່ນໆ ແລະມຸນີ ກໍສັນລະເສີນພຣະອົງ.

Word by Word

• बभूव: occurred/was
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्पवृष्टिः: a shower of flowers
• पुष्पवृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प + वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणां वृष्टिः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उपरि: upon
• उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय/संबन्ध-अव्यय (postposition/adverb), ‘upon/above’

• संततम्: continuously
• संततम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb), नित्यं/अविच्छिन्नम्

• प्रशशंस: praised
• प्रशशंस: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रातिपदिक ‘ब्रह्मन्’ का प्रथमा-एकवचन विशेषरूप ‘ब्रह्मा’

• शक्राद्याः: Indra and others
• शक्राद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (शक्रः आदिः येषां ते) — ‘Indra and others’

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यतार्थक-अव्यय (also/likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Brahma
• Indra (Shakra)
• Munis (Sages)

FAQs

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

The unbroken shower of flowers symbolizes divine sanction and auspicious approval of Śiva’s lordship (Pati). The praise by gods and sages indicates that even the highest cosmic powers recognize Śiva as the supreme refuge and the giver of grace leading the bound soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—worshipped with flowers, hymns, and reverence—while implying His deeper transcendence. In Linga worship, offering flowers and reciting stuti mirrors this celestial puṣpavṛṣṭi, affirming that devotional upacāras are valid means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-pūjā with flower offerings (puṣpārcana) and conclude with stotra/stuti; mentally visualize a puṣpavṛṣṭi over the Śiva-liṅga while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a focused bhakti-dhyāna.