Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवा नारदाद्देवदर्शनात् । बुबुधुस्तन्मितं भोगं तयोश्च रममाणयोः

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare devā nāradāddevadarśanāt | bubudhustanmitaṃ bhogaṃ tayośca ramamāṇayoḥ

Translation

其间，诸神从曾亲见神圣的那罗陀处听闻，便明白那对神圣伴侣在相互欢悦时，其享乐亦是有度而自持的。

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative

• antare: in the meantime/interval
• antare: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘in the interval/meanwhile’

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• nāradaāt: from Nārada
• nāradaāt: Apadana (अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative

• deva-darśanāt: from/owing to the sight of the gods
• deva-darśanāt: Hetu (हेतुः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: देवानां दर्शनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; ablative ‘because of/from’

• bubudhuḥ: they came to know/understood
• bubudhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्सभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• tat-mitam: that-measured/limited to that
• tat-mitam: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + mita (कृदन्त from mā धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘तत् एव मितम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies भोगम्

• bhogam: enjoyment/pleasure
• bhogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• tayoḥ: of the two (of them)
• tayoḥ: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; genitive dual

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ramamāṇayoḥ: of the two who were enjoying/sporting
• ramamāṇayoḥ: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ram (धातु) + śatṛ/śānac (कृत्: शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपद-भाव, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; ‘of the two who were sporting/enjoying’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even within divine līlā, enjoyment is “measured” (mitam)—signifying mastery over desire and the Shaiva ideal that true freedom is not indulgence but sovereign self-control under the Lord’s grace.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva’s divine play as purposeful and regulated, encouraging devotees to worship the Linga not for worldly indulgence but to receive steadiness, restraint, and devotion that leads toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt disciplined bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a restrained lifestyle; optionally wear Rudrākṣa and apply Tripuṇḍra as reminders of inner control and devotion.