Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

कामभस्म-प्रार्थना: रत्याः शङ्करं प्रति विनयः / Rati’s Supplication to Śaṅkara regarding Kāma’s Ashes

Devanagari script

अथ शम्भुर्भवाचारी तत्र कृत्यम्विधाय तत् । मेनामामंत्र्य शैलं च जनवासं जगाम सः

Transliteration

atha śambhurbhavācārī tatra kṛtyamvidhāya tat | menāmāmaṃtrya śailaṃ ca janavāsaṃ jagāma saḥ

Translation

Pagkatapos, si Śambhu, na sumusunod sa wastong banal na asal, ay tinapos ang nararapat na ritwal doon. Nang makapagpaalam kay Menā at sa Bundok (Himālaya), siya’y umalis patungo sa tahanan ng mga tao.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (sequence marker)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भव-आचारी: one who acts as (Lord) Bhava
• भव-आचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + आचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः; विशेषणम् (शम्भुः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• कृत्यम्: the required duty
• कृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'duty/required act'

• विधाय: having performed
• विधाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; 'having done/arranged'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; कृत्यम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अनुवादक

• मेनाम्: Menā
• मेनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आमन्त्र्य: having taken leave of
• आमन्त्र्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभावः; 'having invited/taken leave of'

• शैलम्: the mountain (Himālaya)
• शैलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• जन-वासम्: the abode of people
• जन-वासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक) + वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः — 'dwelling of people'

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; शम्भोः पुनरुक्त-निर्देशः

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mena
• Himalaya (Shaila)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the supreme Lord who still models impeccable ācāra (right conduct): completing what must be done and departing only after respectfully taking leave—teaching devotees that dharma and reverence purify action and support spiritual maturity.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva’s līlā—his embodied, relational presence—showing that devotion is not only mystical but also expressed through disciplined, respectful behavior, which is integral to Shiva-bhakti and temple/linga worship culture.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is niyama and maryādā: complete one’s prescribed worship/rite before transitioning to the next act, and cultivate respectful saṅkalpa and closure—practically applied as finishing japa or pūjā properly before leaving the shrine.