Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

हिमवतः सुमङ्गलोत्सव-नगररचना

Himavān’s Auspicious Festival Preparations and City Adornment

Devanagari script

अथाज्ञप्तो गिरीशेन विश्वकर्मा महामतिः । निवासार्थं सुरादीनां तत्तल्लोकाम् हि यत्नतः

Transliteration

athājñapto girīśena viśvakarmā mahāmatiḥ | nivāsārthaṃ surādīnāṃ tattallokām hi yatnataḥ

Translation

随后，天界巧匠毗湿伐羯摩，心智宏大，奉吉利沙（主湿婆）之命，便勤勉地为诸天与其他神圣众生，悉心营建相应的居所与诸界。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence marker)

• आज्ञप्तः: having been commanded
• आज्ञप्तः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-ज्ञप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘having been ordered/commissioned’

• गिरीशेन: by Girīśa (Śiva)
• गिरीशेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; गिरिणां ईशः (Lord of mountains)

• विश्वकर्मा: Viśvakarmā
• विश्वकर्मा: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विश्वस्य कर्मा/कर्मकर्ता (name)

• महामतिः: the great-minded
• महामतिः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘great-minded’ qualifying Viśvakarmā

• निवासार्थम्: for residence (purpose)
• निवासार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Prayojana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निवास + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘for the purpose of residence’ (अर्थे चतुर्थीभावः)

• सुरादीनाम्: of the gods and others
• सुरादीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘of the gods and others’

• तत्-तत्: each respective
• तत्-तत्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (reduplicated distributive); qualifying ‘लोकान्’ = ‘each respective’

• लोकान्: worlds/realms
• लोकान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• यत्नतः: carefully
• यत्नतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb) ‘with effort/carefully’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic ordering of abodes (loka-vyavasthā) under Śiva’s command

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishvakarma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Girīśa, the supreme Lord who directs cosmic order: even exalted beings like Viśvakarmā act by His command, reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta principle of Pati (Śiva) governing all functions.

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

By naming Śiva as Girīśa who issues commands and arranges realms, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Lord with attributes and lordship—supporting devotional worship where the devotee aligns their will with Śiva’s divine ordinance (ājñā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined obedience (ājñā-pālana) expressed through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and daily Śiva-pūjā, cultivating surrender to Śiva as the divine governor of one’s inner and outer “abode.”