Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

अथ शंभुर्महादेवो गृहीत्वा गिरिजां शिवाम् । जगाम निर्जनं स्थानं महादिव्यं मनोहरम्

Transliteration

atha śaṃbhurmahādevo gṛhītvā girijāṃ śivām | jagāma nirjanaṃ sthānaṃ mahādivyaṃ manoharam

Translation

Bấy giờ, Śaṃbhu—Đại Thần Mahādeva—đưa Girijā, tức Śivā (Pārvatī), đến một nơi vắng lặng, vô cùng linh diệu và mỹ lệ, làm say lòng người.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महादेवः: the Great God
• महादेवः: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; शंभुः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण-विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having taken’

• गिरिजाम्: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शिवाम्: auspicious / Śivā (as name)
• शिवाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (गिरिजाम्)

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

• निर्जनम्: solitary
• निर्जनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थानम्)

• स्थानम्: place
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे कर्म (destination)

• महादिव्यम्: very divine
• महादिव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थानम्)

• मनोहरम्: charming
• मनोहरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (स्थानम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse situates Śiva and Girijā in Kailāsa’s private, transcendent space—an archetype for the ‘guhya-sthāna’ of divine union.

Significance: Models the inner withdrawal (pratyāhāra) where the Lord ‘conceals’ the world-display and turns to the śakti-svarūpa—hinting at tirodhāna preceding anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) guiding Śivā (Pārvatī) toward a sacred, secluded space—symbolic of turning away from worldly distraction (pāśa) and moving inward to divine presence, a key Shaiva Siddhānta orientation toward grace and disciplined contemplation.

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

Śiva appears here in a personal (saguṇa) mode as Śaṃbhu-Mahādeva, engaging in divine līlā. Such narratives support devotional worship of Śiva with form, which in practice culminates in Linga-upāsanā—approaching the formless Supreme through a sanctified symbol and embodied devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nirjana-bhajana—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a quiet, pure place, ideally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and remembrance of Śiva.