Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

कार्तिकेयलीलावर्णनम्

Narration of Kārttikeya’s Divine Play

Devanagari script

इत्थं लीला कृता तेन कथिता सा मया मुने । तल्लीलामपरां तात शृणु प्रीत्या वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

itthaṃ līlā kṛtā tena kathitā sā mayā mune | tallīlāmaparāṃ tāta śṛṇu prītyā vadāmyaham

Translation

ดูก่อนมุนี ข้าพเจ้าได้เล่าลีลาที่พระองค์ทรงกระทำไว้ดังนี้แล้ว บัดนี้ดูก่อนผู้เป็นที่รัก จงฟังด้วยความปีติเถิด ข้าพเจ้าจะกล่าวลีลาอื่นของพระองค์ด้วยความรัก

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus/in this way
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• लीला: divine play
• लीला: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय; described)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृता: done/performed
• कृता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु) क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त/क्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of लीला)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• कथिता: told/narrated
• कथिता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kathita (कृदन्त; √kath (धातु) क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त/क्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सा)

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• तत्-लीलाम्: that play (of his/that)
• तत्-लीलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/संबन्ध: ‘तस्य लीलाम्’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपराम्: another/further
• अपराम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aparā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of लीलाम्)

• तात: dear one/son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Karaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; भावे (in the sense of manner)

• वदामि: I speak/tell
• वदामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) to Śiva’s līlā as a direct means of cultivating bhakti and inner purity—preparing the soul (paśu) to turn toward Pati (Śiva) in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

By presenting Śiva’s līlā as something to be joyfully heard and contemplated, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva through narratable forms, deeds, and grace—often paired in practice with Liṅga worship and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śravaṇa and smaraṇa: regularly hearing/reciting Shiva Purana kathā with devotion, then meditating on Śiva’s qualities; it can be complemented with japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a focused daily discipline.