Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

वसन्त-प्रभावः तथा काम-उद्दीपन-वर्णनम् | Spring’s Influence and the Arousal of Kāma

Devanagari script

अकालनिमितं तात मधोर्वीक्ष्य हरस्तदा । आश्चर्य्यं परमं मेने स्वलीलात्ततनुः प्रभुः

Transliteration

akālanimitaṃ tāta madhorvīkṣya harastadā | āścaryyaṃ paramaṃ mene svalīlāttatanuḥ prabhuḥ

Translation

尔时，诃罗见“摩度”中出现不合时令的征兆，便以为是至上的奇异。那位主宰——其身亦由自身神戏（līlā）所成——将此观作其神戏之举。

Word by Word

• अकाल-निमित्तम्: an untimely cause/portent
• अकाल-निमित्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकाल + निमित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: अकाले निमित्तम् (cause at an untimely time)

• तात: dear one/father (address)
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• मधोः: of spring (Madhu)
• मधोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय/adverb

• आश्चर्यम्: wonder
• आश्चर्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme/great
• परमम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘आश्चर्यम्’

• मेने: thought/considered
• मेने: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• स्वलीलात्: from his own play
• स्वलीलात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; समास: स्वा लीला (his own play)

• ततनुः: extended/spread
• ततनुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he extended/spread’

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to ‘हरः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Hara
• Madhu

FAQs

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

It frames extraordinary events as Śiva’s līlā: the Siddhānta lens is that Pati (Śiva) remains sovereign, and even “omens” operate within His governance, guiding beings from confusion toward grace and right understanding.

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

By calling Śiva “Prabhu” and “Hara” who manifests form through līlā, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Śiva’s manifest presence (including the Liṅga) as the accessible revelation of the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt śaraṇāgati (surrender) when signs or disturbances arise: steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and contemplate that all circumstances are under Hara’s compassionate rule.