Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 60

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

पुंस्कोकिलानां निनदैर्मधुरैर्गणसेवितैः । तुरंगवदनैस्सिद्धैरप्सरोभिश्च गुह्यकैः

Transliteration

puṃskokilānāṃ ninadairmadhurairgaṇasevitaiḥ | turaṃgavadanaissiddhairapsarobhiśca guhyakaiḥ

Translation

ആ സ്ഥലം ആൺകുയിലുകളുടെ മധുര കൂജനാദത്തോടെ മുഴങ്ങുകയും ശിവഗണങ്ങളുടെ സേവനത്തോടെ പരിവൃതമാവുകയും ചെയ്തു; കൂടാതെ സിദ്ധർ, അപ്സരസുകൾ, ഗൂഢസ്വഭാവമുള്ള ഗുഹ്യകർ എന്നിവരും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു—അവരിൽ ചിലർക്കു കുതിരമുഖംപോലെയും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• puṃs-kokilānām: of male cuckoos
• puṃs-kokilānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṃs (प्रातिपदिक) + kokila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ninadaiḥ: by sounds/cries
• ninadaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ninada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• madhuraiḥ: sweet
• madhuraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with ninadaiḥ

• gaṇa-sevitaiḥ: frequented/attended by groups
• gaṇa-sevitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sevita (कृदन्त; √sev सेव्)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); PPP (क्त) used adjectivally

• turaṃga-vadanaiḥ: by horse-faced (ones) / by horse-faces
• turaṃga-vadanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turaṃga (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• siddhaiḥ: by Siddhas (perfected beings)
• siddhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• apsarobhiḥ: by Apsarases (celestial nymphs)
• apsarobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apsaras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• guhyakaiḥ: by Guhyakas (yakṣa-attendants)
• guhyakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guhyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Siddhas
• Apsaras
• Guhyakas

FAQs

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

The verse portrays a sanctified realm saturated with auspicious sound and divine presence—signifying that proximity to Śiva (Pati) naturally draws purified beings (gaṇas, Siddhas) and elevates the environment into a fit field for devotion and inner awakening.

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

By depicting Śiva’s visible retinue and sacred ambiance, it supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees approach Śiva through tangible symbols—His attendants, holy places, and auspicious signs—while these forms ultimately point toward His supreme, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The emphasis on auspicious sound suggests japa and nāda-focused devotion—especially steady repetition of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” in a consecrated space, mentally visualizing Śiva attended by His gaṇas to stabilize bhakti and concentration.