Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

हिमाचलविवाहवर्णनम् — Description of Himācala’s

context for) Marriage / The Himālaya-Marriage Narrative (Chapter Opening

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्नवसरे देवाः स्वार्थमाचिन्त्य कृत्स्नशः । ऊचुः पितॄन्समागत्य दिव्यान्प्रीत्या मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

tasminnavasare devāḥ svārthamācintya kṛtsnaśaḥ | ūcuḥ pitṝnsamāgatya divyānprītyā munīśvara

Translation

Hỡi bậc hiền thánh tối thượng, đúng lúc ấy chư Thiên sau khi suy xét trọn vẹn mục đích của mình, liền đến gần các Pitṛ thiêng liêng và với lòng kính ái, cung kính thưa lời.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अवसरे: occasion/time
• अवसरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• स्वार्थम्: their own purpose
• स्वार्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): स्वस्य अर्थः

• आचिन्त्य: having reflected
• आचिन्त्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाले (having done)

• कृत्स्नशः: entirely, wholly
• कृत्स्नशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृत्स्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पितॄन्: the Pitṛs/ancestors
• पितॄन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• समागत्य: having approached
• समागत्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाले (having come/approached)

• दिव्यान्: divine
• दिव्यान्: कर्म (Karma/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) पितॄन्

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मुनीनां ईश्वरः

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages; addressing a leading sage as munīśvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs

FAQs

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

The verse shows that even the Devas act within dharma by seeking rightful counsel and support; in a Shaiva lens, worldly powers still depend on ordained order, while the highest refuge remains Pati (Śiva), the ultimate governor of karma and grace.

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

Though the verse itself describes the Devas approaching the Pitṛs, it reflects the Shiva Purana’s broader ethic: harmonious worship includes honoring cosmic hierarchies and duties; such dharmic alignment becomes supportive for Saguna Śiva-upāsanā (devotional worship of Śiva in form), preparing the mind for Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Pitṛ-tarpaṇa and respectful remembrance of ancestors alongside regular Śiva-sādhana—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and wearing rudrākṣa—so one’s devotion is grounded in dharma and gratitude.