Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation

Devanagari script

गृह्योक्तविधिना शम्भो स्वविवाहस्य शंकर । गिरीशसुतया देव्या कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि

Transliteration

gṛhyoktavidhinā śambho svavivāhasya śaṃkara | girīśasutayā devyā karma kartumihārhasi

Translation

噢，商婆（Śambhu）、噢，商羯罗（Śaṅkara），如今你应在此依《家祭》（Gṛhya）所传之仪，偕同女神——吉利沙（喜马拉雅）之女——举行你自身婚礼的神圣诸行。

Word by Word

• gṛhya-ukta-vidhinā: by the procedure stated in the Gṛhya (rites)
• gṛhya-ukta-vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhya (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (vidhi), Tṛtīyā vibhakti, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: gṛhye uktaḥ vidhiḥ (‘procedure stated in the Gṛhya [sūtras]’)

• śambho: O Śambhu
• śambho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• sva-vivāhasya: of your own marriage
• sva-vivāhasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + vivāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: svasya vivāhaḥ (‘one’s own marriage’)

• śaṃkara: O Śaṅkara
• śaṃkara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana, Ekavacana

• girīśa-sutayā: with the daughter of Girīśa (Himālaya)
• girīśa-sutayā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/associate; instrumental accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girīśa (प्रातिपदिक) + sutā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: girīśasya sutā (‘daughter of Girīśa/Himālaya’)

• devyā: with the goddess
• devyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; in apposition to girīśasutayā

• karma: the rite/action
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakalīṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• kartum: to perform
• kartum: Prayojana/Anukriyā (प्रयोजन/infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-anta (तुमुन् infinitive), ‘to do/perform’

• iha: here
• iha: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Deśa-avyaya (adverb of place)

• arhasi: you ought/are fit
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष/2nd person), Ekavacana

Speaker

Himālaya (Girīśa), addressing Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It shows that even the Supreme Lord, appearing as Saguna Shiva, upholds dharma by honoring Vedic household rites, teaching devotees that sacred order and devotion can coexist and sanctify worldly life.

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

By portraying Shiva participating in vivaha-rites, the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s accessible, grace-bestowing presence; this supports Linga worship as a concrete, ritually honored form through which devotees approach the transcendent (Nirguna) reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to disciplined, scripture-aligned worship (vidhi): performing Shiva puja with mantra (especially Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintaining purity and sankalpa, mirroring the reverence of prescribed rites.