Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon

Devanagari script

खड्गी त्रिशूली लकुटी कपर्दी चतुर्भुजो गौरतराकृतिर्हि । भस्मानुलिप्तो विलसत्सुतेजास्तपस्विवर्योऽद्भुतसर्ववेशः

Transliteration

khaḍgī triśūlī lakuṭī kapardī caturbhujo gauratarākṛtirhi | bhasmānulipto vilasatsutejāstapasvivaryo'dbhutasarvaveśaḥ

Translation

Ele apareceu portando uma espada, um tridente e um bastão, com cabelos emaranhados e enrolados, quatro braços e uma forma radiante e clara. Ungido com cinzas sagradas, resplandecendo com um esplêndido brilho espiritual, ele era o principal dos ascetas — maravilhoso, assumindo qualquer tipo de disfarce à vontade.

Word by Word

• khaḍgī: sword-bearing
• khaḍgī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक) + in (इन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ‘खड्गधारी’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• triśūlī: trident-bearing
• triśūlī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: triśūla (प्रातिपदिक) + in (इन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ‘त्रिशूलधारी’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• lakuṭī: club-bearing
• lakuṭī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakuṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + in (इन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ‘लकुटधारी’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• kapardī: wearing matted hair (kaparda)
• kapardī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaparda (प्रातिपदिक) + in (इन्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ‘जटाधारी/कपर्दयुक्त’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• catur-bhujaḥ: four-armed
• catur-bhujaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (‘चत्वारो भुजाः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gaura-tara-ākṛtiḥ: (one) of very fair form
• gaura-tara-ākṛtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक) + tara (तर-प्रत्यय) + ākṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘गौरतरा आकृतिः’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• bhasma-anuliptaḥ: smeared with ash
• bhasma-anuliptaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + anulipta (√lip धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: ‘भस्मना अनुलिप्तः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• vilasat-su-tejāḥ: having splendid, shining radiance
• vilasat-su-tejāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vilasat (√las धातु, शतृ) + su (अव्यय) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहिसदृश विशेषण; ‘विलसत्’ (present participle) + ‘सुतेजस्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tapasvi-varyaḥ: the best of ascetics
• tapasvi-varyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapasvin (प्रातिपदिक) + varya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (‘तपस्विनां वर्यः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• adbhuta-sarva-veśaḥ: of wondrous attire in every way
• adbhuta-sarva-veśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक) + sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + veśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (विशेषण-विशेष्य: ‘अद्भुतः सर्ववेशः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as the supreme Pati—both the fierce protector (weapons, divine power) and the highest yogin (tapas, tejas). His bhasma signifies the burning away of impurities and the transcendence of worldly identity, pointing toward liberation through Shaiva discipline and grace.

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

Although Linga worship often points to the Nirguna reality, this verse highlights Saguna Shiva—His manifest, approachable form with attributes. In Shaiva Siddhanta, devotion to the manifest Lord purifies the soul and matures it toward realizing Shiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The explicit marker is bhasma: applying sacred ash (Tripuṇḍra) with remembrance of Shiva, along with cultivating tapas (self-discipline) and mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to awaken inner tejas and steadiness.