Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशो वृषभस्सर्वसुन्दरः । यो धर्म उच्यते वेदैश्शास्त्रैस्सिद्धमहर्षिभिः

Transliteration

śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśo vṛṣabhassarvasundaraḥ | yo dharma ucyate vedaiśśāstraissiddhamaharṣibhiḥ

Translation

ఆయన శుద్ధ స్ఫటికంలా ప్రకాశిస్తాడు; వృషభుడు అన్ని విధాలా పరమసుందరుడు. వేదశాస్త్రాలు, సిద్ధ మహర్షులు చెప్పిన ధర్మమే ఇతడు సాక్షాత్ ధర్మస్వరూపుడు.

Word by Word

• śuddha-sphaṭika-saṃkāśaḥ: having the appearance of pure crystal
• śuddha-sphaṭika-saṃkāśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + sphaṭika (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular/एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निर्धारण/विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• vṛṣabhaḥ: the bull (Vṛṣabha)
• vṛṣabhaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• sarva-sundaraḥ: all-beautiful
• sarva-sundaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; समासः—कर्मधारयः (sarvaḥ sundaraḥ)

• yaḥ: who/which
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana; relative pronoun (यत्-प्रत्यय)

• dharmaḥ: Dharma (righteousness)
• dharmaḥ: Pratipādya (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative), Ekavacana

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; Karmaṇi prayoga (Passive/कर्मणि)

• vedaiḥ: by the Vedas
• vedaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• śāstraiḥ: by the śāstras
• śāstraiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsaka-liṅga (Neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahuvacana

• siddha-maharṣibhiḥ: by the accomplished great sages
• siddha-maharṣibhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddha (प्रातिपदिक) + maharṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Bahuvacana; समासः—कर्मधारयः (siddhāḥ maharṣayaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Bull (Nandi/Dharma-symbol) as crystal-pure and supremely beautiful, teaching that true Dharma is not merely social rule but a luminous, purified order that stands close to Śiva and guides the soul toward grace and liberation.

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

In Saguna worship, Śiva is approached with form and attendants; Nandi at the forefront signifies that devotion to the Liṅga must be grounded in Dharma—purity, restraint, and right conduct—recognized by Veda, Śāstra, and realized sages.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin Śiva-pūjā by honoring Nandi and reaffirming Dharmic vows—cleanliness, truthfulness, and disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—so worship becomes crystal-clear in intention.