Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

देवगुरुप्रेषणम्

Himālaya Mission of the Gods’ Preceptor / The Gods Send Their Guru

Devanagari script

दिग्वाससे कुगात्राय व्यालभूषणधारिणे । अज्ञातकुलनाम्ने च कुशीलायाविहारिणे

Transliteration

digvāsase kugātrāya vyālabhūṣaṇadhāriṇe | ajñātakulanāmne ca kuśīlāyāvihāriṇe

Translation

礼敬那以四方为衣（以天为裳）者；其身粗朴无饰；以群蛇为庄严；超越可知之族姓与名号；并如放逸自在的苦行者般游行无拘。

Word by Word

• dik-vāsase: to the sky-clad (naked) one
• dik-vāsase: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dik (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsa (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘one whose clothing is the directions (naked)’

• ku-gātrāya: to the one with a strange/ugly body
• ku-gātrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ku- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + gātra (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyāla-bhūṣaṇa-dhāriṇe: to the wearer of serpent ornaments
• vyāla-bhūṣaṇa-dhāriṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāla (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘wearer of serpent-ornaments’

• ajñāta-kula-nāmne: to the one of unknown lineage and name
• ajñāta-kula-nāmne: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ajñāta (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘whose family and name are unknown’ (as epithet)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• ku-śīlāya: to the ill-mannered/strange-natured one
• ku-śīlāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ku- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• a-vihāriṇe: to the non-roaming one (unmoving)
• a-vihāriṇe: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + vihārin (प्रातिपदिक) (समास)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); privative (नञ्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: दिग्वाससे कुगात्राय व्यालभूषणधारिणे । अज्ञातकुलनाम्ने च कुशीलायाविहारिणे

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as Digambara—beyond worldly coverings, status, and identity—teaching that the Supreme (Pati) transcends social markers like lineage and name, and is realized through detachment and devotion.

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

It supports Saguna contemplation: devotees meditate on Shiva’s ascetic form (sky-clad, serpent-ornamented) to approach the formless reality. The Linga similarly serves as a sacred, accessible focus that points beyond attributes to Shiva’s transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as Digambara while chanting the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), cultivating vairagya (dispassion). Offer bilva leaves and apply Tripundra (bhasma) as reminders of impermanence and surrender to Shiva.