Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

अनरण्यसुता–पिप्पलादचरितम् / The Episode of Anaraṇya’s Daughter and Sage Pippalāda

Devanagari script

चारुरत्नरथस्थश्च नानालं कारभूषितः । नवीनयौवनश्श्रीमान्कामदेवसभप्रभः

Transliteration

cāruratnarathasthaśca nānālaṃ kārabhūṣitaḥ | navīnayauvanaśśrīmānkāmadevasabhaprabhaḥ

Translation

Ngự trên cỗ xe rực rỡ nạm châu báu và trang sức đủ loại, ngài hiện ra trong nét thanh tân của tuổi trẻ—chói sáng, huy hoàng, như Kāma-deva giữa hội chúng của chính mình.

Word by Word

• चारु-रत्न-रथ-स्थः: standing on a lovely jewel-chariot
• चारु-रत्न-रथ-स्थः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘चारु-रत्न-रथे स्थः’ (standing/being on a beautiful jewel-chariot); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• नाना-अलंकार-भूषितः: adorned with various ornaments
• नाना-अलंकार-भूषितः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अलंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘नानैः अलंकारैः भूषितः’ (adorned with various ornaments); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नवीन-यौवनः: of fresh youth
• नवीन-यौवनः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवीन (प्रातिपदिक) + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘नवीनं यौवनं यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्रीमान्: splendid; illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त

• कामदेव-सदृश-प्रभः: having radiance like Kāma (Cupid)
• कामदेव-सदृश-प्रभः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + सदृश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘कामदेवसदृशी प्रभा यस्य’ (whose radiance is like Kāma); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the ornamented, youthful appearance supports the narrative strategy of concealment (tirodhāna) through alluring form.

Characters & Entities

• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

The verse uses the imagery of youthful beauty and ornamented radiance to portray an exalted, captivating presence, reminding devotees that even the finest worldly splendor is ultimately meaningful when it turns the mind toward devotion and the Lord’s grace rather than toward mere desire.

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

Such descriptions support Saguna-bhakti—meditating on the Lord’s manifest glory and auspicious attributes—while the Shiva Purana ultimately directs that devotion toward the timeless reality signified by the Linga, transcending attraction to external forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is rupa-dhyana (contemplation of divine auspicious radiance) combined with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” to purify kama (desire) into bhakti.