Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

कुमाराभिषेकवर्णनम् — Description of Kumāra’s Abhiṣeka

Consecration/Installation

Devanagari script

कुमारः क्रीडयामास शिवोत्संगे मुदान्वितः । वासुकिं शिवकंठस्थं पाणिभ्यां समपीडयत्

Transliteration

kumāraḥ krīḍayāmāsa śivotsaṃge mudānvitaḥ | vāsukiṃ śivakaṃṭhasthaṃ pāṇibhyāṃ samapīḍayat

Translation

ആനന്ദം നിറഞ്ഞ കുമാരൻ ശിവന്റെ മടിയിൽ കളിച്ചു. ശിവന്റെ കഴുത്തിൽ വസിക്കുന്ന വാസുകി സർപ്പത്തെ അവൻ ഇരുകൈകളാൽ മൃദുവായി അമർത്തി.

Word by Word

• कुमारः: the boy (Kumāra)
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्रीडयामास: played
• क्रीडयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘he played’

• शिवोत्सङ्गे: in Śiva’s lap
• शिवोत्सङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + उत्सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; शिवस्य उत्सङ्गे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• मुदान्वितः: filled with joy
• मुदान्वितः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदा + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मुदया अन्वितः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• वासुकिम्: Vāsuki (the serpent)
• वासुकिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शिवकण्ठस्थम्: situated on Śiva’s neck
• शिवकण्ठस्थम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + कण्ठ + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शिवस्य कण्ठे स्थितः (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव)

• पाणिभ्याम्: with (his) two hands
• पाणिभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• समपीडयत्: pressed/squeezed
• समपीडयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पीड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kumara (Kartikeya/Skanda)
• Vasuki

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s accessible, saguna (personal) grace: the Supreme Lord who grants mokṣa also becomes intimate and tender, allowing the devotee to relate through love (bhakti) and trust rather than fear.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent, nirguṇa reality, this episode emphasizes saguna worship—meditating on Śiva’s compassionate form and leelā—showing that both approaches converge in reverence to the same Pati (Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is saguna-dhyāna: contemplate Śiva with Vāsuki at his neck and the child Kumāra in his lap while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating intimacy and surrender.