Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

श्यामलै राजतैरक्तैर्विशदोयं हिमाचलः । मंदराश्रयमेघौघः पत्रैर्दुग्धांबुधिर्यथा

Transliteration

śyāmalai rājatairaktairviśadoyaṃ himācalaḥ | maṃdarāśrayameghaughaḥ patrairdugdhāṃbudhiryathā

Translation

Ang Himalaya ay maningning—pinalamutian ng maiitim, maputing pilak, at mapulang kulay. Ang mga ulap na dumadapo sa mga punong Mandāra ay wari’y Karagatan ng Gatas, na may mga alon ng maputing bula.

Word by Word

• श्यामलैः: with dark (ones)
• श्यामलैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्यामल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक-प्रयोगे, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• राजतैः: with silvery (ones)
• राजतैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• रक्तैः: with red (ones)
• रक्तैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• विशदः: bright/clear
• विशदः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (हिमाचलः)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हिमाचलः: Himālaya (snow-mountain)
• हिमाचलः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिमाचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः (हिमः अचलः)

• मन्दर-आश्रय-मेघ-ओघः: a mass of clouds resting on Mandara
• मन्दर-आश्रय-मेघ-ओघः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक) + मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मन्दरम् आश्रयः यस्य/यत्र सः; मेघानाम् ओघः)

• पत्रैः: with leaves
• पत्रैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• दुग्ध-अम्बुधिः: the milk-ocean
• दुग्ध-अम्बुधिः: उपमान (Upamāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (दुग्ध इव अम्बुधिः)

• यथा: like/as
• यथा: उपमासूचक (Upamā-sūcaka)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमावाचक (comparative particle: as/like)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is a kāvya-style Himalayan tableau in the Satīkhaṇḍa, setting the scene for Satī’s journey and the unfolding of destiny; it is not a Jyotirliṅga-māhātmya passage.

Significance: Contemplation of Himālaya as Devī’s paternal realm (Himavat) evokes vairāgya and śiva-bhakti; the ‘Kṣīroda’ simile frames the landscape as a tīrtha-like purity-field for inner śuddhi.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Himalaya
• Mandara

FAQs

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

The verse sanctifies Himālaya as a pure, radiant divine landscape—symbolizing inner clarity (śuddhi) and steadiness—fit for the unfolding of Sati’s sacred narrative within Shaiva dharma.

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

By portraying a luminous, awe-filled sacred environment, the Purana prepares the mind for Saguna-bhakti—devotion through form, place, and story—where reverence for Shiva is stabilized through contemplation of sanctified settings associated with his līlā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is dhyāna on sacred purity: visualize the radiant Himālaya while repeating the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to steady the mind and cultivate śiva-bhāva (Shiva-centered awareness).