Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

हिमवतः सुमङ्गलोत्सव-नगररचना

Himavān’s Auspicious Festival Preparations and City Adornment

Devanagari script

विष्णुश्च पार्षदैस्सर्वैर्गरुडाख्यैस्समन्वितः । कृत्रिमो निर्मितस्तद्वत्परमाश्चर्यरूपवान्

Transliteration

viṣṇuśca pārṣadaissarvairgaruḍākhyaissamanvitaḥ | kṛtrimo nirmitastadvatparamāścaryarūpavān

Translation

同样，也塑造了一尊人造的毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）形像，诸名为迦楼罗（Garuḍa）之侍从悉皆随侍。其相呈现极其奇妙，令人叹异。

Word by Word

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• pārṣadaiḥ: with attendants
• pārṣadaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārṣada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• sarvaiḥ: all
• sarvaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘all’ (qualifying pārṣadaiḥ)

• garuḍa-ākhyaiḥ: called ‘Garuḍa’
• garuḍa-ākhyaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garuḍa + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समास: गरुड-आख्य (named Garuḍa / Garuḍa-like)

• samanvitaḥ: accompanied
• samanvitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samanvita (कृदन्त; सम्+√i)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘accompanied’

• kṛtrimaḥ: artificial
• kṛtrimaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛtrima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nirmitaḥ: made
• nirmitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate participle)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√mā (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘constructed/made’

• tadvat: likewise / similarly
• tadvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यताबोधक अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison)

• parama-āścarya-rūpavān: having a supremely wondrous form
• parama-āścarya-rūpavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama + āścarya + rūpavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose form is supreme wonder’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

It highlights that even highly impressive appearances can be “constructed” and therefore are not the ultimate truth; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes turning from mere marvel (āścarya) toward Pati (Shiva) as the highest reality and liberator.

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

The verse contrasts externally dazzling forms with the deeper principle of worship: in Linga devotion, the seeker reveres Shiva’s saguna symbol as a doorway to the transcendent, without being bound by spectacle or imitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and inward discrimination—so devotion is anchored in Shiva-tattva rather than fascination with outward wonders.