Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

पूर्वगतिवर्णनम् (Pūrvagati-varṇana) — “Description of the Prior Course / Earlier Lineage Account”

Devanagari script

एकस्मिन्समये तिस्रो भगिन्यस्ता मुनीश्वर । श्वेतद्वीपं विष्णुलोकं जग्मुर्दर्शनहेतवे

Transliteration

ekasminsamaye tisro bhaginyastā munīśvara | śvetadvīpaṃ viṣṇulokaṃ jagmurdarśanahetave

Translation

噢，诸牟尼之主，有一次那三位姊妹前往白洲（Śvetadvīpa）、毗湿奴之界，只为求得神圣的达尔善（darśana）之见。

Word by Word

• एकस्मिन्: in one
• एकस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (in one)

• समये: at a time
• समये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (three)

• भगिन्यः: sisters
• भगिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• ताः: those
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां ईश्वर)

• श्वेत-द्वीपम्: Śvetadvīpa (the White Island)
• श्वेत-द्वीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्वेतः द्वीपः)

• विष्णु-लोकम्: Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णु-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः लोकः)

• जग्मुः: went
• जग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• दर्शन-हेतवे: for the purpose of seeing (darśana)
• दर्शन-हेतवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दर्शनस्य हेतुः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shvetadvipa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights darśana as a transformative spiritual act—approaching a divine realm with focused intention. In Shaiva Siddhānta, sincere seeking and grace (anugraha) are key; even when the narrative moves through Viṣṇu’s realm, the broader Purāṇic frame supports disciplined devotion leading toward the Supreme Lord’s grace.

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

Though Śiva-liṅga worship is not named here, the motif of “going for darśana” parallels Saguna upāsanā in Shaiva practice—seeking the Lord through accessible forms, sacred places, and sanctified vision, which ripens devotion and prepares the aspirant for deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is intentional pilgrimage and darśana with prayerful focus; a Shaiva analogue is visiting a Śiva temple or Jyotirliṅga for darśana while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with purity of mind.