Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65

हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्

The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वा मां स भगवान्सुश्रीमान्नीललोहितः । सगणः पश्यतो मे हि द्रुतमंतर्दधे हरः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityuktvā māṃ sa bhagavānsuśrīmānnīlalohitaḥ | sagaṇaḥ paśyato me hi drutamaṃtardadhe haraḥ

Translation

ବ୍ରହ୍ମା କହିଲେ—ଏପରି କହି ସେ ଭଗବାନ୍, ଶୁଭଶ୍ରୀସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ନୀଲଲୋହିତ, ଗଣମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ, ମୋ ଦେଖୁଥିବାବେଳେ ଶୀଘ୍ର ଅନ୍ତର୍ଧାନ ହେଲେ; ଏଭଳି ହର ନିଜକୁ ଗୁପ୍ତ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahma
• brahmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति)
• Form: Particle

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)

• mām: to me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (भगवत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• suśrīmān: very glorious
• suśrīmān: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + śrīmat (सु + श्रीमत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nīlalohitaḥ: the blue-red one (Shiva)
• nīlalohitaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla + lohita (नील + लोहित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sagaṇaḥ: with his attendants
• sagaṇaḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + gaṇa (स + गण)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• paśyataḥ: while looking
• paśyataḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √paś (दृश् - शतृ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular, Present Participle

• me: of me/my
• me: Sambandha (Relationship/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (हि)
• Form: Particle (Emphasis)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (द्रुत)
• Form: Adverb

• antardadhe: disappeared
• antardadhe: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: antar + √dhā (अन्तर् + धा)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• haraḥ: Hara (Shiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (हर)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: īśvara-tirodhāna: the Lord’s self-concealment after issuing the creative mandate

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Nīlalohita
• Gaṇas
• Hara
• Brahmā

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s sovereignty over manifestation: He grants darśana (revelation) and then performs antardhāna (withdrawal), teaching that the Lord is not grasped by ego or mere sight but by devotion, purity, and grace.

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

Nīlalohita is a Saguna manifestation of Rudra witnessed by Brahmā; the swift disappearance points devotees to stable worship through Śiva-liṅga and mantra, where the same Lord is approached consistently even when visionary forms withdraw.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with focused dhyāna on Śiva as Hara, along with simple Śaiva disciplines like bhasma-dhāraṇa (Tripuṇḍra) and reverent remembrance of the Lord’s gaṇas and protection.