Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

स्फटिकाभ्रमये तस्मिन् शादवलद्रुमराजिते । विचित्रपुष्पावलिभिस्सरसोभिश्च संयुते

Transliteration

sphaṭikābhramaye tasmin śādavaladrumarājite | vicitrapuṣpāvalibhissarasobhiśca saṃyute

Translation

Ali, naquele domínio límpido como cristal e claro como nuvem—ornado de relvados verdejantes e árvores esplêndidas—o lugar era ainda embelezado por fileiras de flores maravilhosas e por belos lagos que a ele se uniam.

Word by Word

• sphaṭika-abhra-maye: in (that) made of crystal and cloud-like (whiteness)
• sphaṭika-abhra-maye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphaṭika (प्रातिपदिक) + abhra (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘स्फटिकाभ्रयोः मयः’ (made of crystal and cloud-like/white) qualifying tasmin

• tasmin: in that (place)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; locative ‘in that’

• śādvala-druma-rājite: adorned with green grass and trees
• śādvala-druma-rājite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śādvala (प्रातिपदिक) + druma (प्रातिपदिक) + rājita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘शादवलैः द्रुमैः राजितम्’ (adorned by grassy trees/greenery and trees) qualifying tasmin

• vicitra-puṣpa-āvalibhiḥ: with rows of diverse flowers
• vicitra-puṣpa-āvalibhiḥ: Sādhana (साधन/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक) + puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + āvali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः ‘विचित्राणां पुष्पाणाम् आवलिः’ (rows/garlands of diverse flowers)

• sarasaḥ: with lakes
• sarasaḥ: Sādhana (साधन/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (sarobhiḥ); here base is सरस् (n.) → सरोभिः; meaning ‘with lakes/ponds’

• bhiḥ: (instrumental plural ending)
• bhiḥ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhis (विभक्ति-प्रत्यय)
• Form: विभक्ति-प्रत्ययः; actually part of sarobhiḥ; separated only due to sandhi in text (…āvalibhis sarobhiś ca)

• ca: and
• ca: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• saṃyute: endowed with / joined with
• saṃyute: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-yuj (धाातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘endowed/combined with’ qualifying tasmin

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse uses luminous and pure imagery—crystal radiance, fragrant flowers, and serene lakes—to signify a sattvic, sanctified space where devotion to Pati (Shiva) and purity of mind naturally arise, supporting contemplation and bhakti.

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

Such descriptions frame the sacred environment in which Saguna Shiva is approached through beauty, purity, and ordered sacred space—mirroring how a devotee prepares a clean, flower-adorned shrine for Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies creating a pure worship setting: cleansing the space, offering fresh flowers and water, and then steadying the mind for japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) or calm meditation on Shiva’s auspicious form.