Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

शिवरूपदर्शनम्

Menā’s Vision of Śiva’s Divine Form

Devanagari script

सर्वैर्देवगणैः प्रीत्या विष्ण्वाद्यस्सेवितं तथा । सूर्येण च्छत्रितं मूर्ध्नि चन्द्रेण च विशोभितम्

Transliteration

sarvairdevagaṇaiḥ prītyā viṣṇvādyassevitaṃ tathā | sūryeṇa cchatritaṃ mūrdhni candreṇa ca viśobhitam

Translation

它为诸天众神以欢喜之心侍奉——毗湿奴等亦然；其首如受日轮作王伞之荫，又复以月轮点缀而更显庄严。

Word by Word

• sarvaiḥ: by all
• sarvaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying devagaṇaiḥ

• deva-gaṇaiḥ: by the hosts of gods
• deva-gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘group of gods’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prītyā: with love/affection
• prītyā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial sense ‘with affection’

• viṣṇu-ādyaiḥ: by Viṣṇu and others
• viṣṇu-ādyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘Viṣṇu and others’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sevitam: served/attended
• sevitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sev (सेव् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); ‘served/attended’

• tathā: thus/also
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sūryeṇa: by the Sun
• sūryeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cchatritam: shaded/covered (as with an umbrella)
• cchatritam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chad (छद् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘covered/overshadowed/umbrellad’

• mūrdhni: on the head
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• candreṇa: by the Moon
• candreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• viśobhitam: beautified
• viśobhitam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√śubh (शुभ् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘adorned/beautified’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Surya
• Chandra
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva’s sovereign, auspicious majesty: even the highest devas joyfully serve Him, indicating that liberation and grace flow from devotion to Pati (the Lord) rather than from worldly status or celestial power.

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

The imagery of being “served” and “adorned” highlights Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through reverent service (sevā) and sacred symbols. In Linga worship, devotees similarly honor Shiva as the supreme presence whom even the gods revere.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt sevā-bhāva in daily pūjā: offer water, flowers, and lamps to the Shiva Linga while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humble devotion like the devas described here.