Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

शम्भोस्सम्भोगमिष्टं को भेदं कर्तुमिहेश्वरः । पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे च स्वेच्छया हि विरंस्यति

Transliteration

śambhossambhogamiṣṭaṃ ko bhedaṃ kartumiheśvaraḥ | pūrṇe varṣasahasre ca svecchayā hi viraṃsyati

Translation

在商布（Śambhu，湿婆）所喜爱的事物上，此处谁能作出分别？纵使圆满一千年，他也将唯凭自身自在之意转身离去，心无所著而得离欲。

Word by Word

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सम्भोगम्: union, enjoyment
• सम्भोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इष्टम्: desired, dear
• इष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (√इष्/√यज्?; ‘इष्’ क्त/निष्ठा) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘सम्भोगम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भेदम्: separation, disruption
• भेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुनन्त-इन्फिनिटिव (infinitive)

• इह: here
• इह: Deśa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• ईश्वरः: lord, capable one
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘कः’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य-भावे

• पूर्णे: when completed
• पूर्णे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘वर्षसहस्रे’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• वर्षसहस्रे: in a thousand years
• वर्षसहस्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—वर्षाणां सहस्रम् (a thousand years)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• स्वेच्छया: by (his) own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—स्वस्य इच्छा (by his own will)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• विरंस्यति: will cease/stop
• विरंस्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√रम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Parvati

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: īśvara-svātantrya (the Lord’s free will) overriding ordinary causality; long time-span (thousand years) as cosmic patience

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva is supremely independent (svatantra) and unattached: even what appears “dear” to him is not a binding craving, for he can relinquish it by mere will—showing the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal of mastery over desire and freedom from pāśa (bondage).

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

In Saguna worship, devotees relate to Śiva through form and līlā, yet this verse reminds that the Linga signifies his transcendence: he is not compelled by enjoyment or emotion, and devotion should aim at inner purity and liberation rather than bargaining for pleasures.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of moderation and periodic renunciation, offering pleasures mentally into Śiva and cultivating vairāgya—so the mind learns to “turn away” from attachment by conscious will.