Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 8

संहाररूप-प्रादुर्भावः

Manifestation of Śiva’s Saṃhāra-Form

Devanagari script

सहस्रबाहुर्जटिलश्चन्द्रार्द्धकृतशेखरः । समृद्धोग्रशरीरेण पक्षाभ्याञ्चञ्चुना द्विजः

Transliteration

sahasrabāhurjaṭilaścandrārddhakṛtaśekharaḥ | samṛddhograśarīreṇa pakṣābhyāñcañcunā dvijaḥ

Translation

Nagpakita Siya bilang may sanlibong bisig, may buhol-buhol na jata na buhok, at may kalahating gasuklay na buwan sa Kanyang putong. Taglay ang maringal ngunit mabagsik na katawan, naghayag din Siya bilang isang ‘dvija’ na may mga pakpak at tuka—isang anyong ibon—isa pa sa di-mabilang na saguna na pagpapakita ni Rudra.

Word by Word

• सहस्र-बाहुः: having a thousand arms
• सहस्र-बाहुः: विशेषण (Adjectival to द्विजः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘सहस्रं बाहवो यस्य’

• जटिलः: matted-haired
• जटिलः: विशेषण (Adjectival to द्विजः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चन्द्र-अर्द्ध-कृत-शेखरः: with a crest made of a half-moon
• चन्द्र-अर्द्ध-कृत-शेखरः: विशेषण (Adjectival to द्विजः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र + अर्द्ध + कृत + शेखर (प्रातिपदिक; कृत = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘चन्द्रार्धं कृतः शेखरो यस्य’ (whose crest is made of half-moon)

• समृद्ध-उग्र-शरीरेण: with a well-developed, fierce body
• समृद्ध-उग्र-शरीरेण: करण/प्रकार (Instrument/Mode)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समृद्ध + उग्र + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘समृद्धं च उग्रं च शरीरम्’

• पक्षाभ्याम्: with (two) wings
• पक्षाभ्याम्: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), द्विवचन (Dual)

• च: and
• च: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• चञ्चुना: with a beak
• चञ्चुना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चञ्चु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• द्विजः: the twice-born/bird
• द्विजः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is an iconographic expansion of Rudra’s innumerable saguna embodiments (bahurūpatva) revealed in crisis-time.

Significance: Meditation on Rudra’s viśvarūpa-like multiplicity (e.g., sahasrabāhu) cultivates surrender (śaraṇāgati) of the paśu, loosening egoic limitation—an aspect of pāśa.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Rudra’s limitless capacity to assume diverse forms—terrifying, auspicious, humanlike, or creaturelike—so devotees can approach the one Pati (Lord) through many saguna revelations, culminating in grace and liberation.

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

The verse supports saguna upasana: Shiva may be contemplated through vivid forms and attributes, yet the Linga remains the unifying symbol of that same Shiva beyond form; both lead the devotee toward the one reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Rudra-dhyana: meditate on Shiva with jata and the crescent-moon, and recite the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); on Mahashivratri, support it with Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids to steady devotion.