Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin

Devanagari script

कैलासवासिनं रुद्रं मद्रूपं पूर्णमुत्तमम् । देवकार्यार्थमुद्भूतं पृथगाकृतिधारिणम्

Transliteration

kailāsavāsinaṃ rudraṃ madrūpaṃ pūrṇamuttamam | devakāryārthamudbhūtaṃ pṛthagākṛtidhāriṇam

Translation

അവൻ കൈലാസവാസിയായ രുദ്രനെ ദർശിച്ചു—എന്റെ തന്നെ സ്വരൂപം, പരിപൂർണ്ണനും ഉത്തമനും; ദേവകാര്യത്തിനായി പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെട്ടു വ്യത്യസ്ത ദൃശ്യരൂപം ധരിച്ചവൻ.

Word by Word

• कैलासवासिनम्: dwelling in Kailāsa
• कैलासवासिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कैलास + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष—कैलासे वासी (dwelling in Kailāsa)

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मत्-रूपम्: of my form; my embodiment
• मत्-रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—मम रूपम् (my form)

• पूर्णम्: complete; full
• पूर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण—रूपम्/रुद्रम् इति

• उत्तमम्: supreme; excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• देवकार्य-अर्थम्: for the purpose of the gods’ task
• देवकार्य-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + कार्य + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला—देवानां कार्यम् (work of the gods) तस्य अर्थः (for the sake/purpose)

• उद्भूतम्: arisen; manifested
• उद्भूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘arisen/manifested’

• पृथक्: separate; distinct
• पृथक्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण/विशेषणार्थे (separately, distinct)

• आकृति-धारिणम्: bearing a distinct form
• आकृति-धारिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकृति + धारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—आकृतिं धारयति (bearing a form)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Kailāsa-dwelling Rudra manifests in a distinct form for deva-kārya; Kedāra tradition remembers Śiva’s Himalayan presence and accessibility to restore dharma when cosmic order is threatened.

Significance: Darśana of Himalayan Śiva as ‘protector in crisis’; pilgrimage for removal of obstacles and restoration of adhikāra through Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Kailasa
• Devas (gods)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that the Supreme Rudra is pūrṇa (complete) yet freely reveals a distinct form out of compassion and divine purpose—showing that liberation is supported by Śiva’s grace when He becomes accessible to devotees and the cosmic order.

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

The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: although Śiva is supreme and complete, He assumes a perceivable form for beings to approach. This complements Liṅga worship, where the formless-transcendent is adored through an accessible sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Kailāsa-vāsī Rudra as the supreme, compassionate Lord and repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhakti; such Saguna contemplation aligns the mind with Śiva’s manifested grace.