Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

अनरण्य-वंशवर्णनम् तथा पिप्पलादस्य कामोत्पत्तिः

Genealogy of King Anaraṇya and Pippalāda’s arousal of desire

Devanagari script

मुनिः स्नात्वाभीष्टदेवं सम्पूज्य विधिवच्छिवम् । जगाम कामी भिक्षार्थमनरण्यसभां गिरे

Transliteration

muniḥ snātvābhīṣṭadevaṃ sampūjya vidhivacchivam | jagāma kāmī bhikṣārthamanaraṇyasabhāṃ gire

Translation

நீராடி, முனிவர் தம் இஷ்டதேவனாகிய சிவபெருமானை விதிப்படி முறையாகப் பூஜித்தார். பின்னர் தம் நோக்கம் நிறைவேற வேண்டுமெனக் காமித்து, பிச்சைக்காக அனரண்ய மலைச் சபைக்குச் சென்றார்।

Word by Word

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having bathed'

• अभीष्ट-देवम्: the desired deity
• अभीष्ट-देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभीष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—अभीष्टः देवः (desired deity)

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु) उपसर्गः सम्- → सम्पूज्य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having duly worshipped'

• विधिवत्: properly; as prescribed
• विधिवत्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'according to rule'

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कामी: desiring
• कामी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (इच्छावान्)

• भिक्षा-अर्थम्: for alms; for begging
• भिक्षा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—भिक्षायाः अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अन-रण्य-सभाम्: the (non-forest) assembly hall
• अन-रण्य-सभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन (नञ्) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—अरण्यं न (नञ्-तत्पुरुष) + सभा; अर्थः 'non-forest assembly' (i.e., village/settlement hall)

• गिरे: on the mountain
• गिरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (वैदिक/काव्य-रूप: गिरे = गिरौ)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a Shaiva ideal of disciplined life: purification through snāna, vidhivat worship of Saguna Śiva as iṣṭa-devatā, and humble living through bhikṣā—showing devotion joined with restraint and dharma.

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

By stating “vidhivat Śivam sampūjya,” the verse emphasizes formal, rule-based worship of Lord Śiva (often expressed through Liṅga-pūjā in the Purāṇa tradition), affirming Saguna worship as a valid means to receive grace and inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple daily sādhana is implied: snāna (purificatory bath), orderly Śiva-pūjā (with mantra and offerings as per vidhi), and cultivating humility and non-attachment symbolized by seeking bhikṣā.