Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

शिवरूपदर्शनम्

Menā’s Vision of Śiva’s Divine Form

Devanagari script

सर्वथा रमणीयं च भूषितस्य विभूषणैः । वाहनस्य महाशोभा वर्णितुं नैव शक्यते

Transliteration

sarvathā ramaṇīyaṃ ca bhūṣitasya vibhūṣaṇaiḥ | vāhanasya mahāśobhā varṇituṃ naiva śakyate

Translation

它以种种华美宝饰周遍庄严，显得无比可爱动人；其广大光辉与妙丽之姿，实非言辞所能尽述。

Word by Word

• sarvathā: in every way
• sarvathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘in every way/entirely’

• ramaṇīyam: delightful/beautiful
• ramaṇīyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramaṇīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective

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

• bhūṣitasya: of the adorned (one)
• bhūṣitasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhūṣ (भूष् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle used adjectivally (कर्मणि क्त); Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); of ‘the adorned (one/thing)’

• vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: with ornaments/adornments
• vibhūṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vāhanasya: of the vehicle
• vāhanasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-śobhā: great splendor
• mahā-śobhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + śobhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘great splendor’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• varṇitum: to describe
• varṇitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √varṇ (वर्ण् धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्); ‘to describe’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण अव्यय)

• śakyate: is possible/can be done
• śakyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śak (शक् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive-like sense ‘is possible’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that divine splendour surpasses ordinary speech and thought, guiding the devotee toward reverent contemplation (bhakti) where the mind is purified by remembering the Lord’s sacred manifestations and attendants.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā by affirming the sanctity and ineffability of Shiva’s manifested glory (including his divine entourage and symbols), while also implying that ultimate reality exceeds description—harmonizing form-worship with the transcendence indicated by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Shiva’s auspicious form and symbols while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”); this may be paired with traditional Shaiva aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to steady devotion.