Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

गायन्हसन्प्ररुदन्नृत्यमानो विलेलिहानो घरघोरघोषः । जातेन तेनाद्भुतदर्शनेन गौरीं भवोऽसौ स्मितपूर्वमाह

Transliteration

gāyanhasanprarudannṛtyamāno vilelihāno gharaghoraghoṣaḥ | jātena tenādbhutadarśanena gaurīṃ bhavo'sau smitapūrvamāha

Translation

Vừa ca hát, vừa cười, rồi lại khóc, hắn cứ nhảy múa mãi—liếm môi và gầm rống bằng âm thanh ghê rợn như sấm. Thấy cảnh tượng kỳ dị ấy, đức Bhava (Śiva) trước hết mỉm cười, rồi mới cất lời với Gaurī (Pārvatī).

Word by Word

• gāyan: singing
• gāyan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gai (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भाव (simultaneous action)

• hasan: laughing
• hasan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √has (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सहक्रिया

• prarudan: crying aloud
• prarudan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√rud (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: उपसर्ग-युक्त शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nṛtyamānaḥ: dancing
• nṛtyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nṛt (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vilelihānaḥ: licking repeatedly
• vilelihānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+√lih (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: उपसर्ग-युक्त शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ghara-ghora-ghoṣaḥ: one with a harsh, dreadful roar
• ghara-ghora-ghoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghara (प्रातिपदic) + ghora (प्रातिपदic) + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: ‘having a harsh/terrible sound’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• jātena: by/with the arisen
• jātena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jāta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदic)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-सम्भव (here instrumental), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Ins, 3rd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies darśanena)

• tena: by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (contextual)

• adbhuta-darśanena: by the wondrous appearance
• adbhuta-darśanena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदic) + darśana (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘wonderful sight/appearance’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Ins), एकवचन

• gaurīm: Gaurī
• gaurīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem), द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन

• bhavaḥ: Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asau: that (he)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदic)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• smita-pūrvam: smilingly / with a prior smile
• smita-pūrvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदic) + pūrva (प्रातिपदic)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘with a smile beforehand’

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the events; the verse sets up Shiva speaking to Parvati)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how awe, fear, and wonder can arise before powerful manifestations, yet Śiva remains the calm, compassionate Lord (Pati) who responds with a smile—guiding the devotee (Pāśu) from emotional turbulence toward insight and steadiness.

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

It reflects Saguna Śiva—who appears with dynamic, even terrifying energies—yet is inwardly benevolent and self-mastered. In Linga worship, devotees approach the same Lord through a stable, accessible form, learning to see the compassionate reality behind intense appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) when confronted by fear or agitation, remembering Śiva’s smile as assurance; this aligns with bhakti-centered concentration rather than reacting to outer spectacle.