Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

मेना-हिमालयसंवादः

Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva

Devanagari script

पार्वतीवचनाद्भिक्षुरूपो यातो गिरेर्गृहम् । अहं पावितवान्कालीं यतो लीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

pārvatīvacanādbhikṣurūpo yāto girergṛham | ahaṃ pāvitavānkālīṃ yato līlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

应帕尔瓦蒂之请，我化作行乞的出家人，前往山之居所。因我通达神圣的戏游（līlā），便使迦梨得以净化成圣。

Word by Word

• पार्वतीवचनात्: from Parvati’s word/command
• पार्वतीवचनात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (पार्वत्याः वचनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Ablative singular ‘from/according to Parvati’s word’

• भिक्षुरूपः: in the form of a mendicant
• भिक्षुरूपः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिक्षु + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (भिक्षोः रूपम्); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; predicate adjective to implied subject

• यातः: went
• यातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकालिक कृदन्तः (past participle), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘gone’

• गिरेः: of the mountain
• गिरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Genitive singular

• गृहम्: house, home
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Accusative singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Nominative singular

• पावितवान्: purified (have purified)
• पावितवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + क्तवतुँ (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्तवतुँ (perfect participle/agentive past), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; ‘having purified’

• कालीम्: Kālī
• कालीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Accusative singular

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्ययम् (causal/relative adverb: ‘because/whence’)

• लीलाविशारदः: skilled in play/sport
• लीलाविशारदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लीला + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (लीलायां विशारदः); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; predicate adjective (to ‘aham’)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (narrating his own līlā in the Parvati Khanda context, as relayed in the Rudra Saṃhitā narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Motif of Śiva testing/educating in disguise (bhikṣu-rūpa) parallels several kṣetra-legends where the Lord appears incognito to reveal devotion and purify the devotee.

Significance: Teaches that the Lord’s concealed play (tirodhāna-līlā) purifies and matures devotees, making them fit for grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kali
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s līlā: the Lord adopts a humble outer form to uplift and purify beings, showing that divine grace (anugraha) can arrive through unexpected appearances and tests of devotion.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva with attributes—who actively enters the world in approachable forms. Such līlā strengthens devotion that later matures into steady worship of Shiva (including Linga-upāsanā) as the compassionate Pati who grants purification and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt humility and remembrance: mentally honor Shiva as the wandering ascetic (bhikṣu-rūpa), and combine simple worship with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and a devotional attitude.