Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 66

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

भूषूणादिरुचिर्मायार्लिप्तानां ब्रह्मणो न च । स प्रभुर्निर्गुणोऽजो निर्मायोऽलक्ष्यगतिर्विराट्

Transliteration

bhūṣūṇādirucirmāyārliptānāṃ brahmaṇo na ca | sa prabhurnirguṇo'jo nirmāyo'lakṣyagatirvirāṭ

Translation

祂并非那些被摩耶所涂染之人的“梵”，纵使他们因外在装饰而显得光彩夺目。唯有祂是至上主宰——离诸德相（nirguṇa）、不生、无摩耶所染——其行迹非感官与心识所能执取，而祂又是遍满一切的宇宙大身——毗罗阇（Virāṭ）。

Word by Word

• भूषूण-आदि-रुचिः: fondness for ornaments and the like
• भूषूण-आदि-रुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषूण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूषूणादिषु रुचिः = liking for ornaments etc.)

• मायया: by māyā; through illusion
• मायया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• लिप्तानाम्: of those tainted
• लिप्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘smeared/tainted’ (qualifying brahmaṇaḥ understood as class of beings)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman / of the Absolute
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• निर्गुणः: without qualities
• निर्गुणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying प्रभुः)

• अजः: unborn
• अजः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• निर्मायः: without māyā; beyond illusion
• निर्मायः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्माय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (free from māyā)

• अलक्ष्य-गतिः: whose course is unperceivable
• अलक्ष्य-गतिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य गतिः अलक्ष्या सः)

• विराट्: Virāṭ (the cosmic being)
• विराट्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विराज्/विराट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No direct Jyotirliṅga link; the verse distinguishes true nirguṇa Lord from māyā-smeared conceptions and affirms both transcendence and cosmic pervasion (Virāṭ).

Significance: Encourages seekers to look beyond external brilliance and approach Śiva as nirguṇa while honoring His immanent virāṭ presence in all kṣetras.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman
• Maya
• Virat

FAQs

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

It distinguishes the Supreme Pati (Shiva) from any “absolute” notion still conditioned by Māyā, affirming Shiva as nirguṇa, unborn, and ultimately beyond conceptual grasp—yet immanent as the Virāṭ, the cosmic ground of all.

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

Though Shiva is declared nirguṇa and nirmāya, devotees approach Him through saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga; the liṅga is a compassionate, accessible focus that leads the mind from form to the formless Lord beyond Māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as “nirguṇa, aja, nirmāya,” repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner detachment from Māyā; let external purity aids (bhasma/tripuṇḍra, rudrākṣa) support remembrance without mistaking mere outer brilliance for realization.