Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

शिवरूपदर्शनम्

Menā’s Vision of Śiva’s Divine Form

Devanagari script

सुप्रसन्नं सुहासं च सुलावण्यं मनोहरम् । गौराभं द्युतिसंयुक्तं चन्द्ररेखाविभूषितम्

Transliteration

suprasannaṃ suhāsaṃ ca sulāvaṇyaṃ manoharam | gaurābhaṃ dyutisaṃyuktaṃ candrarekhāvibhūṣitam

Translation

祂极其安然，含笑温柔，妙丽无双，摄人心神。祂具皎洁光辉，通体明耀，并以新月之纹为庄严。

Word by Word

• su-prasannam: very serene/pleased
• su-prasannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (सु + प्रसन्नम् = अतिशयेन प्रसन्नम्)

• su-hāsam: smiling beautifully
• su-hāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुहासः = सुन्दरः हासः/हासयुक्तः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• su-lāvaṇyam: exceedingly lovely
• su-lāvaṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + lāvaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अतिशय-लावण्ययुक्तम्)

• manoharam: charming
• manoharam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• gaura-ābham: having a fair radiance
• gaura-ābham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaura (प्रातिपदिक) + ābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गौरः आभः/आभा यस्य/यत्)

• dyuti-saṃyuktam: endowed with splendor
• dyuti-saṃyuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dyuti (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj (धातु) + क्त, उपसर्गः सम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (द्युत्या संयुक्तम्)

• candra-rekhā-vibhūṣitam: adorned with a crescent-moon line
• candra-rekhā-vibhūṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + rekhā (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त; √bhūṣ (धातु) + क्त, उपसर्गः वि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (चन्द्ररेखया विभूषितम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva’s auspicious (saguṇa) form—serene, smiling, and radiant—so the devotee can steady the mind in devotion and contemplation, which in Shaiva Siddhanta supports grace (anugraha) and inner purification toward liberation.

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

While the Liṅga points to Shiva’s transcendent reality, this verse emphasizes accessible meditation on His gracious personal form (saguṇa). Both approaches converge: form-based devotion matures the mind to realize the formless Supreme indicated by the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyāna by visualizing Shiva as calm, smiling, and moon-adorned, while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; this supports focused bhakti and a sattvic, inward state suitable for worship (pūjā) or Mahāśivarātri vrata.