Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 76

मेनायाः क्रोध-विलापः — Menā’s Lament and Reproach

to the Sage

Devanagari script

अनेकरूपनामा च नाना लीलाकरः प्रभुः । सर्वस्वामी स्वतन्त्रश्च मायाधीशोऽविकल्पकः

Transliteration

anekarūpanāmā ca nānā līlākaraḥ prabhuḥ | sarvasvāmī svatantraśca māyādhīśo'vikalpakaḥ

Translation

祂具无量形相与无量圣名，示现种种神圣戏游（līlā）。祂为万有之主，恒常自在独立，统御摩耶（Māyā），且为超越一切分别与对待之唯一者。

Word by Word

• अनेकरूपनामा: having names of many forms
• अनेकरूपनामा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक-रूप-नामन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अनेकानि रूपाणि यस्य नामानि/नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नाना: various, many
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverbial: variously/many)

• लीलाकरः: doer of divine play
• लीलाकरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लीला-कर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लीलायाः कर्ता)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सर्वस्वामी: lord of all
• सर्वस्वामी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य स्वामी)

• स्वतन्त्रः: independent
• स्वतन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वतन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मायाधीशः: lord of Māyā
• मायाधीशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया-धीश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मायायाः ईशः)

• अविकल्पकः: without differentiation; non-conceptual
• अविकल्पकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-विकल्पक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक-विशेषण (negated: without alternatives/without differentiation)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa to the sages, conveying the doctrinal praise of Lord Śiva in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who manifests countless names and forms for līlā, yet remains inwardly beyond all limiting distinctions (avikalpakaḥ). For the seeker, it teaches devotion to His accessible forms while knowing His transcendence over Māyā.

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

The Liṅga symbolizes the one Lord who can be approached through form (saguṇa) while indicating the formless, distinctionless reality beyond conceptual alternatives (avikalpa). Thus, many forms and names are valid gateways to the same Sarvasvāmī.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva with the pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” contemplating Him as Māyādhīśa (ruler of Māyā) and avikalpaka (beyond dualistic thought), while maintaining steady bhakti toward His chosen form or Liṅga.