Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

निमन्त्रण-पत्रिका-प्रेषणम् (Dispatch of the Invitation Letter) / Himālaya Sends the Wedding Invitation to Śiva

Devanagari script

वर्णयामि समासेन शिवप्रीतिविवृद्धये । देवालय गिरिर्यो हि दिव्यरूपधरो महान्

Transliteration

varṇayāmi samāsena śivaprītivivṛddhaye | devālaya giriryo hi divyarūpadharo mahān

Translation

为增益圣主湿婆的欢悦，我将略述其状：那座名为“天神之居”（Devālaya）的大山，具足神圣妙相，巍然显赫。

Word by Word

• वर्णयामि: I describe
• वर्णयामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्णय् (धातु; वर्ण्/वर्णय्—to describe)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• समासेन: briefly / in summary
• समासेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• शिवप्रीतिविवृद्धये: for the increase of Śiva’s pleasure
• शिवप्रीतिविवृद्धये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + प्रीति + विवृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ दत्तिः (dative of purpose)

• देवालय: the abode of the gods (temple)
• देवालय: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आलय (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गिरिः: mountain
• गिरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः (relative pronoun)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Avadhāraṇa (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-बोधक (emphasis/indeed)

• दिव्यरूपधरः: bearing a divine form
• दिव्यरूपधरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य + रूप + धर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse introduces ‘Devālaya’ as a divya-rūpa mountain; while not a Jyotirliṅga, it functions like a sacred kṣetra-description (kṣetra-māhātmya) meant to increase Śiva-prīti.

Significance: Kṣetra-smaraṇa and kathā-śravaṇa ‘for Śiva-prīti’ is itself framed as a means to receive Śiva’s grace (anugraha) in Śaiva Siddhānta.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that recounting Śiva’s sacred places and glories—even briefly—performed with devotion (bhakti) becomes an offering that increases Śiva’s pleasure, inviting His grace (anugraha) upon the devotee.

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

By highlighting a “divine-formed” sacred abode, the verse supports Saguna worship—Śiva approached through holy places, forms, and narratives—preparing the mind for steadier devotion that culminates in deeper realization of Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śiva-kathā-śravaṇa and kīrtana (listening to and reciting Shiva’s glories) as a devotional practice; it may be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to align speech and mind as an offering.