Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

देवसान्त्वनम् (Devasāntvana) — “Consolation/Reassurance of the Gods”

Devanagari script

इत्थं लीलां हरोऽकार्षीद्दर्शयन्कामिनां प्रभुः । ऊचे कामुकवद्वाणीं विरहव्याकुलामिव

Transliteration

itthaṃ līlāṃ haro'kārṣīddarśayankāmināṃ prabhuḥ | ūce kāmukavadvāṇīṃ virahavyākulāmiva

Translation

于是，主宰哈罗（Hara）为示现恋者之情道，演作此神圣戏游（līlā）。他又发出如痴情恋人般的言语，仿佛自身亦为离别之苦所扰。

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• लीलाम्: play/sport
• लीलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अकार्षीत्: did/performed
• अकार्षीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दर्शयन्: showing
• दर्शयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्ययान्त धातु (causative) + शतृ वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘showing’

• कामिनाम्: of lovers
• कामिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• प्रभुः: the lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• ऊचे: said/spoke
• ऊचे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• कामुकवत्: like a passionate man
• कामुकवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामुक + वत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: उपमावाचक ‘वत्’ प्रयोग; क्रियाविशेषण (like a lustful man)

• वाणीम्: speech/words
• वाणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• विरहव्याकुलाम्: distressed by separation
• विरहव्याकुलाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरह + व्याकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (विरहेण/विरहस्य व्याकुला)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-निपात

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s līlā is not ordinary emotion but compassionate pedagogy: by appearing to share the devotee’s longing and separation, He sanctifies human love into bhakti and draws the soul (paśu) toward union with the Lord (Pati).

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—who adopts relatable moods for the devotee’s uplift—while the Liṅga remains the steady symbol of His transcendent reality. Līlā makes the mind tender and receptive, and Liṅga-worship stabilizes that devotion into contemplative surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Transform viraha into japa and remembrance: repeat the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with focused longing, offering bilva leaves or water to the Liṅga, and meditate on Śiva as the compassionate Lord who meets the devotee in separation and grants grace.