Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

कटाक्षपाततुंगौघां स्वीयनेत्रोत्पलान्विताम् । तनुलोमांबुशैवालां मनोद्रुमविलासिनीम्

Transliteration

kaṭākṣapātatuṃgaughāṃ svīyanetrotpalānvitām | tanulomāṃbuśaivālāṃ manodrumavilāsinīm

Translation

അവളുടെ ഉയർന്ന, തരംഗങ്ങളായി ഒഴുകുന്ന കടാക്ഷധാരകൾ തിരമാലക്കൂട്ടംപോലെ പായുകയായിരുന്നു; അവളുടെ കണ്ണുകൾ നീലോത്പലപുഷ്പംപോലെ. ദേഹത്തിലെ സൂക്ഷ്മ രോമങ്ങൾ മൃദുവായ ജലശൈവലംപോലെ, മനസ്സിലെ കൽപദ്രുമവനത്തിൽ ലീലാഭാവത്തിൽ വിഹരിച്ച് ഹൃദയം മോഹിപ്പിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• कटाक्ष-पात-तुंग-ओघाम्: having a lofty torrent of sidelong glances
• कटाक्ष-पात-तुंग-ओघाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कटाक्ष + पात + तुङ्ग + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; ‘…विलासिनीम्’ इति विशेषणम्; कर्मधारय-श्रृङ्खला: ‘कटाक्षपातः’ (glance-cast) + ‘तुङ्गः’ (high) + ‘ओघः’ (stream/mass)

• स्वीय-नेत्र-उत्पल-अन्विताम्: endowed with lotus-like own eyes
• स्वीय-नेत्र-उत्पल-अन्विताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वीय + नेत्र + उत्पल + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘…विलासिनीम्’ इति विशेषणम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; अन्विता = ‘युक्ता’ (endowed with)

• तनु-लोम-अम्बु-शैवालाम्: with delicate hair, like water and algae (imagery)
• तनु-लोम-अम्बु-शैवालाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तनु + लोमन् + अम्बु + शैवाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘…विलासिनीम्’ इति विशेषणम्; कर्मधारय-श्रृङ्खला (सूक्ष्म/उपमा): ‘तनुलोमा’ (fine-haired) + ‘अम्बुशैवाला’ (water-weed-like/with watery algae imagery)

• मनः-द्रुम-विलासिनीम्: the enchanting lady like a wish-fulfilling tree of the mind
• मनः-द्रुम-विलासिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (मनः) + द्रुम + विलासिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘मनसः द्रुमः’ (wish-fulfilling tree of the mind) + ‘विलासिनी’ (sportive lady)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse uses poetic imagery to show Satī (Śakti) as divinely captivating—not merely physically beautiful, but spiritually transformative: her glance awakens devotion, and her presence reshapes the mind into a sacred grove fit for contemplation of Shiva.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna contemplation refines the mind and senses; meditating on Śakti’s auspicious qualities steadies the heart, making it receptive to Shiva. Thus, such descriptions support devotional focus that culminates in Linga-worship and inner realization of Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is dhyāna (visual contemplation): mentally behold the auspicious form and qualities of Shiva–Śakti while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” allowing the mind to become calm, pure, and devotional.