Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

मयस्य शिवस्तुतिः — Maya’s Hymn to Śiva

and Śiva’s Gracious Response

Devanagari script

चित्ररूपाय नित्याय रूपातीताय ते नमः । दिव्यरूपाय दिव्याय सुदिव्याकृतये नमः

Transliteration

citrarūpāya nityāya rūpātītāya te namaḥ | divyarūpāya divyāya sudivyākṛtaye namaḥ

Translation

ବିଚିତ୍ର ଓ ନାନାରୂପଧାରୀ, ନିତ୍ୟ ଏବଂ ରୂପାତୀତ ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ନମସ୍କାର। ଦିବ୍ୟରୂପୀ, ପରମ ଦିବ୍ୟ, ଅତିଦିବ୍ୟ ଆକୃତିସ୍ୱରୂପ ଆପଣଙ୍କୁ ନମସ୍କାର।

Word by Word

• चित्ररूपाय: to the wondrous-formed one
• चित्ररूपाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• नित्याय: to the eternal one
• नित्याय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular (epithet)

• रूपातीताय: to the one beyond form
• रूपातीताय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रूप-अतीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रूपम् अतीतः); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-एकवचनरूपम्; here dative sense ‘to you’

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/भाव (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

• दिव्यरूपाय: to the divine-formed one
• दिव्यरूपाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दिव्याय: to the divine one
• दिव्याय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular (epithet)

• सुदिव्याकृतये: to (him) of very divine form/appearance
• सुदिव्याकृतये: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-दिव्य-आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सु + दिव्या आकृतिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बोधन/भाव (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, presenting a hymn of praise to Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No direct Jyotirliṅga identification; the paradox ‘many-formed yet beyond form’ aligns with liṅga theology (form as indicator of the formless) in a general sense.

Significance: General: meditating on Śiva as both immanent (citrarūpa) and transcendent (rūpātīta) supports non-sectarian vision and loosens attachment to limited conceptions of God.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It reconciles Śiva’s twofold reality: He is rūpātīta (beyond all limiting forms) yet also approachable through citra/divya rūpa (manifold, divine manifestations). In Shaiva Siddhānta, this supports devotion (bhakti) while affirming Śiva as the supreme transcendent Pati.

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

The verse validates saguna-upāsanā: worshipping Śiva in a divine form—especially the Liṅga as a sacred, non-anthropomorphic focus—while remembering that the Liṅga points to the formless, limitless reality beyond all rūpa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is stuti with japa and dhyāna: recite such salutations (optionally alongside the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), then meditate on Śiva as both the radiant divine presence and the formless, eternal consciousness beyond attributes.