Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

अनरण्य-वंशवर्णनम् तथा पिप्पलादस्य कामोत्पत्तिः

Genealogy of King Anaraṇya and Pippalāda’s arousal of desire

Devanagari script

जना ऊचुः । अनरण्यसुतेयं वै पद्मा नाम रमापरा । वरारोहा प्रार्थ्यमाना नृपश्रेष्ठैर्गुणालया

Transliteration

janā ūcuḥ | anaraṇyasuteyaṃ vai padmā nāma ramāparā | varārohā prārthyamānā nṛpaśreṣṭhairguṇālayā

Translation

众人说道：“此女确是阿那兰耶之女，名为莲华（Padmā），乃吉祥天女罗摩（Rāmā）般至上的美与福德之化身。她为高贵淑女，仪态娴雅，诸王中最卓越者皆求娶于她；因她实为众德所依之所。”

Word by Word

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अनरण्यसुता: daughter of Anaraṇya
• अनरण्यसुता: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनरण्य + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अनरण्यस्य सुता)

• इयम्: this (she)
• इयम्: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/पदार्थ-निश्चयार्थक (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• पद्मा: Padmā
• पद्मा: कर्ता/विषय (Karta/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• नाम: by name
• नाम: विशेषण-सम्बन्ध (Appositive marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निर्देशार्थक (indeclinable used to indicate name)

• रमा: Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• रमा: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अपरा: another, second
• अपरा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वरारोहा: of beautiful ascent/with lovely hips (a fair maiden)
• वरारोहा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर + आरोहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वरा आरोहा)

• प्रार्थ्यमाना: being sought/wooed
• प्रार्थ्यमाना: कर्म-भाव (Passive state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (Present Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नृपश्रेष्ठैः: by the best of kings
• नृपश्रेष्ठैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नृपाणां श्रेष्ठाः)

• गुणालया: abode of virtues
• गुणालया: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुणानाम् आलयः)

Speaker

The people (janāḥ), within Sūta’s narration of the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Padmā
• Anaraṇya
• Ramā (Lakṣmī)

FAQs

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

It highlights dhārmic excellence—outer beauty is affirmed, but the verse primarily praises guṇa (virtue) as the true ornament, aligning with Shaiva ethics where purity of conduct supports spiritual upliftment.

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

Indirectly, it sets a narrative foundation for dhārmic household life (gṛhastha-dharma), which in Shaiva tradition is sanctified through devotion to Saguna Shiva—worship, vows, and righteous alliances that support bhakti and stability of dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies cultivating guṇas (virtues) as a daily sādhana; in Shaiva practice this is commonly supported by regular Shiva-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and observances that purify intention before major life rites like marriage.