Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 61

मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

शूलयुक्तं विरूपाक्षं विकृताकारमाकुलम् । गजचर्म वसानं हि वीक्ष्य त्रेसे शिवाप्रसूः

Transliteration

śūlayuktaṃ virūpākṣaṃ vikṛtākāramākulam | gajacarma vasānaṃ hi vīkṣya trese śivāprasūḥ

Translation

见祂执三叉戟，双目奇异，形貌扭曲而令人不安，又披象皮，湿婆之母梅那便惊惧战栗。

Word by Word

• शूलयुक्तम्: armed with a trident
• शूलयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूल + युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शूलेन युक्तः)

• विरूपाक्षम्: having strange/uneven eyes
• विरूपाक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य)

• विकृताकारम्: of distorted form
• विकृताकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकृत + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विकृतः आकारः)

• आकुलम्: agitated, terrifying
• आकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गजचर्म: elephant-skin
• गजचर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + चर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (कर्म); तत्पुरुषः (गजस्य चर्म)

• वसानम्: wearing (it)
• वसानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस् (धातु) + शानच्/शान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (शानच्), परस्मैपद-धातोः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वसन्/वसानः’ = wearing

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• त्रेसे: trembled
• त्रेसे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘he/she trembled’

• शिवाप्रसूः: Śivā’s mother (Menā)
• शिवाप्रसूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा + प्रसू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवायाः प्रसूः = mother of Śivā/Parvatī)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Gajasamhāramūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Mena

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how Śiva’s austere, fear-transcending ascetic form can appear unsettling to worldly perception, while for devotees it signifies mastery over fear, ego, and the forces of bondage (pāśa), pointing toward liberation under the Lord (Pati).

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

It frames Saguna Śiva as the compassionate Lord who may appear terrifying in iconography (trident, wild form, elephant-hide) yet is the same auspicious Reality worshipped as the Liṅga—beyond appearances, the devotee learns to recognize Śiva’s grace and supremacy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate fearlessness and detachment (vairāgya), reflecting on Śiva’s ascetic symbols as reminders to overcome inner agitation.