Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

हिमवतः सुमङ्गलोत्सव-नगररचना

Himavān’s Auspicious Festival Preparations and City Adornment

Devanagari script

तथा तेनैव विधिना द्वारपाला मनोहराः । हस्तैर्धनूंषि चोद्धृत्य स्थावरा जंगमोपमाः

Transliteration

tathā tenaiva vidhinā dvārapālā manoharāḥ | hastairdhanūṃṣi coddhṛtya sthāvarā jaṃgamopamāḥ

Translation

亦依同样的仪轨，安置了悦目之门卫；他们手擎弓矢，宛如不动的哨兵——却又可比作有情之众，似能行走转动。

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that manner
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle/emphasis)

• विधिना: by the method/rite
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), एकवचन

• द्वार-पालाः: door-guards
• द्वार-पालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी: द्वारस्य पालाः)

• मनोहराः: charming, delightful
• मनोहराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (द्वारपालाः)

• हस्तैः: with (their) hands
• हस्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), बहुवचन

• धनूंषि: bows
• धनूंषि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उद्धृत्य: having raised
• उद्धृत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having lifted/raised’

• स्थावराः: motionless, steady
• स्थावराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (द्वारपालाः)

• जङ्गम-उपमाः: like moving beings (though steady)
• जङ्गम-उपमाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक) + उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (उपमा-सम्बन्ध: जङ्गमस्य उपमाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It portrays sacred order (vidhi) around the divine abode: the devotee’s approach to Shiva is protected by steadiness, discipline, and reverent boundaries—symbolizing inner guardianship over the senses at the “door” of consciousness.

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

Like the guarded gateway to a sanctum, Linga/Saguna worship emphasizes proper approach—purity, restraint, and prescribed conduct—so the devotee enters Shiva’s presence with focused devotion rather than casual familiarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain “gatekeeping” through daily discipline: begin worship with purification and mental restraint, then japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a protective boundary before entering puja or meditation.