Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

मेघा नितंबपर्यंतं संचरंति महीभृतः । सदा प्रालेयसानोस्तु वर्षास्वपि मनोहरे

Transliteration

meghā nitaṃbaparyaṃtaṃ saṃcaraṃti mahībhṛtaḥ | sadā prāleyasānostu varṣāsvapi manohare

Translation

เมฆลอยไปได้เพียงถึงเชิงเขาหรือไหล่เขาเท่านั้น; ส่วนยอดเขาที่ปกคลุมด้วยหิมะยังคงงดงามเสมอ แม้ในฤดูฝน

Word by Word

• meghāḥ: clouds
• meghāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nitamba-paryantam: up to the buttocks/hips (i.e., up to that level)
• nitamba-paryantam: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitamba (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (Avyayībhāva), अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial), अर्थः—'पर्यन्तम्' = up to (limit)

• saṃcaranti: move about / roam
• saṃcaranti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-car (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mahī-bhṛtaḥ: mountains
• mahī-bhṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛt (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhṛ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa) अर्थः—'मह्याः भर्तारः' = bearers of earth (mountains)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• prāleya-sānoḥ: of the snowy peak/summit
• prāleya-sānoḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāleya (प्रातिपदिक) + sānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter) 'sānu', षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative) अर्थः—'प्रालेयस्य सानुः' = snowy peak/slope

• tu: but / indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (contrast/emphasis)

• varṣāsu: in the rainy seasons
• varṣāsu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• api: even / also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• manohare: in the charming (place)
• manohare: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative, 7th), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival), संबोधन-सम्भावना (contextually 'in the charming [place]')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: High-Himalayan sacred geography: clouds limited to lower slopes while the summit remains snow-bright suggests the kṣetra’s ‘upper’ purity beyond worldly turbulence—an interpretive bridge to Kedāra’s lofty jyotirliṅga setting.

Significance: Symbolizes ascent from the veiled lower realm (clouds) to the unveiled summit (clarity), mirroring the devotee’s rise from pāśa toward Śiva.

FAQs

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

It uses nature as a Shaiva metaphor: worldly change (rain-clouds) may cover the lower levels of experience, but the highest purity (snowy summit) remains untouched—like Shiva-consciousness that is steady beyond the guṇas.

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

The Linga signifies the unchanging reality of Shiva; just as the peak stays pristine despite seasonal disturbance, devotion to Saguna Shiva and contemplation of the Linga train the mind to rest in what is constant rather than what is transient.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the ‘summit’ of awareness—repeat the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steadiness, letting passing thoughts be like clouds that do not reach the highest inner stillness.