Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

ईश्वरागमनं हिमवदादि-समागमश्च / The Arrival of Īśvara and the Assembly of Himālaya, Devas, and Mountains

Devanagari script

प्रभोश्च वामभागे तु मुने मां सन्ददर्श ह । चतुर्मुखं महाशोभं स्वपरीवारसंयुतम्

Transliteration

prabhośca vāmabhāge tu mune māṃ sandadarśa ha | caturmukhaṃ mahāśobhaṃ svaparīvārasaṃyutam

Translation

முனியே, ஆண்டவரின் இடப்புறத்தில் நான் நான்முகப் பிரம்மாவைக் கண்டேன்—மிகுந்த ஒளி-அழகால் பிரகாசித்து—தன் பரிவாரத்துடன் சூழப்பட்டிருந்தார்।

Word by Word

• प्रभोः: of the Lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• वामभागे: on the left side
• वामभागे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुषः—वामः भागः (left side/part)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• सन्ददर्श: saw, beheld
• सन्ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ह: indeed (narrative particle)
• ह: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; narrative/emphasis)

• चतुर्मुखम्: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुर्मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); द्विगु-समासः—चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य (four-faced; Brahmā)

• महाशोभम्: very splendid
• महाशोभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-शोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः—महती शोभा यस्य/महाशोभः (greatly splendid)

• स्वपरीवारसंयुतम्: accompanied by his own attendants
• स्वपरीवारसंयुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व-परिवार-संयुत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त ‘संयुत’ (from सम्-√युज्), तत्पुरुषः—स्वेन परिवारिणा संयुतः (accompanied by his own retinue)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s supreme lordship (Pati) even over cosmic authorities like Brahmā, showing that divine order and grace radiate from Shiva’s presence and darśana.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā: Shiva is envisioned in an auspicious, perceivable form attended by divine beings; Linga worship is a primary Shaiva means to approach that same Lord and receive his grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s form with steady bhakti while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); complement it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance and purity of intention.