Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

शिवदूतगमनानन्तरं शङ्खचूडस्य तुलसीसम्भाषणं युद्धप्रस्थान-तत्परता च / After Śiva’s Messenger Departs: Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Counsel with Tulasī and Readiness for War

Devanagari script

तौ दम्पती चिक्रीडाते निमग्नौ सुखसागरे । नानाकामकलाभिश्च निशि चाटुशुतैरपि

Transliteration

tau dampatī cikrīḍāte nimagnau sukhasāgare | nānākāmakalābhiśca niśi cāṭuśutairapi

Translation

ते दांपत्य एकत्र क्रीडा करीत राहिले, सुखसागरात निमग्न; रात्री नानाविध कामकलांनी आणि मधुर मनधरणीच्या शब्दांनीही।

Word by Word

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Dual (pronoun)

• दम्पती: the couple
• दम्पती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Dual (husband and wife as a pair)

• चिक्रीडाते: played/sported
• चिक्रीडाते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, आत्मनेपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Dual, Atmanepada

• निमग्नौ: immersed
• निमग्नौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + मज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Dual; agreeing with दम्पती

• सुख-सागरे: in an ocean of happiness
• सुख-सागरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + सागर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सुखस्य सागरः) — Masculine, Locative, Singular

• नाना-काम-कलाभिः: with various arts of love
• नाना-काम-कलाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (नानाः कामकलाः) — Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Feminine, Locative, Singular

• चाटु-शुतैः: with flattering/sweet utterances
• चाटु-शुतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाटु (प्रातिपदिक) + शुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (चाटूनि शुतानि/उक्तानि) — Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; ‘sweet/coaxing words’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it amplifies the theme of immersion in sukha as a mode of pāśa—kāma and moha functioning as binding forces when unintegrated with Śiva-bhakti.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It portrays the sanctified household sphere where joy, intimacy, and speech are not condemned but meant to be governed by dharma and offered inwardly to Shiva—the Lord (Pati) who alone turns experience into purification and steadiness of mind.

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

As Saguna Shiva is worshipped within lived relationships and duties, the verse reflects how even marital delight can be oriented toward Shiva through reverence, restraint, and remembrance—so the senses do not bind (pāśa) but become instruments of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Refine desire and speech through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, and maintaining a simple vrata-like discipline so pleasure remains dharmic and mind stays Shiva-centered.