Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

कामप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation/Arising of Kāma

Devanagari script

अभ्रमातंगकाकारः पीनो नीलसुवासकः । आरक्तपाणिनयनमुखपादकरोद्भवः

Transliteration

abhramātaṃgakākāraḥ pīno nīlasuvāsakaḥ | āraktapāṇinayanamukhapādakarodbhavaḥ

Translation

Ngài hiện ra với sắc và uy như mây mưa và voi chúa—rộng lớn, hùng mạnh—khoác y phục màu lam. Từ Ngài tỏa ánh đỏ nơi đôi tay, đôi mắt, gương mặt, bàn chân, và cả những lòng bàn tay đưa ra để ban phúc và hộ trì.

Word by Word

• अभ्र-मातङ्गक-आकारः: having the form of a cloud-elephant
• अभ्र-मातङ्गक-आकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मातङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अभ्रमातङ्गकस्य आकारः)

• पीनः: full-bodied, stout
• पीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीन (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नील-सु-वासकः: wearing fine blue garments
• नील-सु-वासकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + वासक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सु-वासकः = सुन्दर-वासकः; नीलः वासकः)

• आ-रक्त-पाणि-नयन-मुख-पाद-कर-उद्भवः: whose hands, eyes, face, feet and palms are reddish
• आ-रक्त-पाणि-नयन-मुख-पाद-कर-उद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक) + नयन (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य पाणयः/नयनानि/मुखम्/पादाः/कराः आरक्ताः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Śiva’s Saguna (manifest) compassion: His cloud-like vastness suggests immeasurable transcendence, while the radiant limbs signify grace that becomes perceivable to devotees—supporting bhakti as a valid path toward liberation under Śaiva Siddhānta.

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

It supports Saguna worship by describing Śiva’s perceptible, auspicious form—yet this same Lord is also worshipped as the Liṅga, the aniconic sign of the infinite. The devotee may meditate on either: the Liṅga as the boundless Pati, and the form as His approachable mercy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna (visual contemplation) of Śiva’s form during pūjā—especially while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—invoking His protective and blessing hands and the auspicious radiance of His gaze.