Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 53
बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle
क्रीडन्नारीजनैस्सार्द्धं प्रपिबन्माधवी मधु । सर्वांगसुन्दरः श्यामः सुस्मितो नवयौवनः
krīḍannārījanaissārddhaṃ prapibanmādhavī madhu | sarvāṃgasundaraḥ śyāmaḥ susmito navayauvanaḥ
സ്ത്രീജനങ്ങളോടൊപ്പം ക്രീഡിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് അവൻ മാധവീ മധു പാനം ചെയ്തു. ശ്യാമവർണ്ണൻ, സർവാംഗസുന്ദരൻ, മൃദുസ്മിതൻ, നവയൗവനത്തിന്റെ തേജസ്സോടെ ദീപ്തനായി।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse portrays a worldly-looking scene to highlight the Purāṇic method of teaching: the Lord’s Saguna appearance can move among pleasures without bondage, reminding devotees that true freedom is inner detachment and sovereignty (aiśvarya) of Pati, not indulgence for the bound soul (paśu).
It supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees contemplate Shiva’s auspicious form—dark-hued, serene, smiling—as a means to steady bhakti and concentration. From this form-based devotion, one is led to the Linga as the abiding, transcendent presence beyond changing scenes.
As a takeaway, practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while meditating on Shiva’s calm smile and beauty, cultivating vairāgya (non-attachment). If following Shaiva ritual, accompany japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and purity.