Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

हिमालयगृहे नारदस्य आगमनम् तथा विश्वकर्मनिर्मितवैभववर्णनम् — Nārada’s Arrival at Himālaya’s Palace and the Description of Viśvakarman’s Marvels

Devanagari script

महादेवो वृषारूढो गणैश्च परिवारितः । आगतः किं विवाहार्थं वद तथ्यं नगेश्वर

Transliteration

mahādevo vṛṣārūḍho gaṇaiśca parivāritaḥ | āgataḥ kiṃ vivāhārthaṃ vada tathyaṃ nageśvara

Translation

“大天尊（摩诃提婆）骑乘神牛，众伽那环侍，已然到来。山之主啊，请如实告我：祂此来是为婚礼之事吗？”

Word by Word

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• mahādevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• vṛṣa-ārūḍhaḥ: mounted on the bull
• vṛṣa-ārūḍhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ārūḍha (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वृषे आरूढः), भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘ārūḍha’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; adjectival to mahādevaḥ

• gaṇaiḥ: with the gaṇas
• gaṇaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• parivāritaḥ: surrounded
• parivāritaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-vṛ (धातु) → parivārita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘surrounded’

• āgataḥ: has come
• āgataḥ: Kriyā/Predicative (क्रिया-समाना)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-gam (धातु) → āgata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate to mahādevaḥ

• kim: whether? why?
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• vivāha-artham: for (the purpose of) marriage
• vivāha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vivāha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विवाहस्य अर्थः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose)

• vada: tell; speak
• vada: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन

• tathyam: the truth
• tathyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tathya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• naga-īśvara: O lord of mountains
• naga-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नगानाम् ईश्वरः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Pārvatī (inquiring of Himālaya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation of Umāpati’s arrival for vivāha signifies Śiva’s gracious turning toward the soul (anugraha), making the transcendent accessible through relational līlā.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: महादेवो वृषारूढो गणैश्च परिवारितः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahādeva)
• Gaṇas
• Himālaya (Nageśvara)
• Nandin/Vṛṣabha (implied by vṛṣārūḍha)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s saguna, grace-bestowing presence—arriving with His gaṇas and auspicious bull-mount—signaling divine order and the sanctification of worldly life through dharmic union, a Shaiva Siddhānta lens where Pati (Śiva) uplifts the soul toward liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva (Vṛṣārūḍha, gaṇa-parivārita), reminding devotees that the same transcendent Lord worshiped as the Liṅga also manifests personally to bless devotees and uphold dharma—bridging nirguṇa depth and saguna accessibility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as Vṛṣārūḍha while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); optionally apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and offer bilva leaves, praying for purity of intention and auspiciousness in life’s commitments.