Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं च शंभोः संभोगकर्म तत् । पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे च गत्वा तत्र सुरेश्वराः

Transliteration

divyaṃ varṣasahasraṃ ca śaṃbhoḥ saṃbhogakarma tat | pūrṇe varṣasahasre ca gatvā tatra sureśvarāḥ

Translation

การร่วมสังวาสอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของพระศัมภูดำเนินอยู่ตลอดหนึ่งพันปีทิพย์ ครั้นครบหนึ่งพันปีแล้ว เหล่าเจ้าแห่งเทวะทั้งหลายจึงไปยังสถานที่นั้นเพื่อเข้าเฝ้าพระองค์

Word by Word

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2 विभक्ति), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• varṣa-sahasram: a thousand years
• varṣa-sahasram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2 विभक्ति), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) ‘varṣāṇāṃ sahasram’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) conjunction

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (6 विभक्ति), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• saṃbhoga-karmā: the act of union
• saṃbhoga-karmā: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय as predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃbhoga (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1 विभक्ति), Ekavacana (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘saṃbhogasya karma’

• tat: that
• tat: Anuvāda/Pratyavamarśa (अनुवाद/प्रत्यवमर्श)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1/2 विभक्ति), Ekavacana (एकवचन); sarvanāma (सर्वनाम)

• pūrṇe: when completed
• pūrṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7 विभक्ति), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)

• varṣa-sahasre: in/at the thousand years
• varṣa-sahasre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7 विभक्ति), Ekavacana (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात) conjunction

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Ktvā-pratyaya (क्त्वा), avyaya-kriyāviśeṣaṇa (अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण), pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल) absolutive; ‘having gone’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (देश-अव्यय) adverb

• sureśvarāḥ: the lords of the gods
• sureśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1 विभक्ति), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘surāṇām īśvarāḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Cosmic birth-narrative frame for Skanda: the prolonged divine union of Śiva and Śakti becomes the prelude to a world-protecting manifestation.

Significance: Highlights the sanctity of Śiva-Śakti līlā as the source of divine progeny and protection; encourages reverence for Śiva-Parvatī temples and Skanda-kṣetras.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: divine time-scale: thousand celestial years (deva-varṣa) marking mythic duration

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as both transcendent (Pati beyond time) and immanent (Saguna, participating in divine līlā), showing that even cosmic time and the gods’ governance unfold under His sovereign rhythm.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—personally present and accessible—whom the devas can approach; in Linga worship, devotees similarly approach Śiva as the manifest Lord who receives prayer and restores dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a disciplined sense of sacred time (niyama), approaching Śiva with reverence as the devas do—optionally supported by bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa.