Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

शिवरूपदर्शनम्

Menā’s Vision of Śiva’s Divine Form

Devanagari script

गंगा च यमुना चैव विधत्तः स्म सुचामरे । सिद्धयोऽष्टौ पुरस्तस्य कुर्वन्ति स्म सुनर्त्तनम्

Transliteration

gaṃgā ca yamunā caiva vidhattaḥ sma sucāmare | siddhayo'ṣṭau purastasya kurvanti sma sunarttanam

Translation

恒河与阎牟那亦被任命执持华美的拂尘（cāmara）为其扇拂；而八种悉地立于其前，献上吉祥之舞。

Word by Word

• gaṅgā: Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• yamunā: Yamunā
• yamunā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yamunā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

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

• vidhattaḥ: they two arranged/provided
• vidhattaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्) Aorist; Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘they two arranged/provided’

• sma: (indeed/then) [past marker]
• sma: Kāla-bodhaka (कालबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past narration (स्म-प्रयोग)

• su-cāmare: two fine cāmara-fans
• su-cāmare: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + cāmara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘excellent yak-tail fans’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• siddhayaḥ: the Siddhis (attainments/personified powers)
• siddhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• aṣṭau: eight
• aṣṭau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्यावाचक); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying siddhayaḥ

• purastāt: in front
• purastāt: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purastāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘in front/before’

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम); Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kurvanti: do/perform
• kurvanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्) Present; Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sma: (indeed/then) [past marker]
• sma: Kāla-bodhaka (कालबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past narration (स्म-प्रयोग)

• su-narttanam: a fine dance
• su-narttanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + nartana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘excellent dance’; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Yamuna
• Ashta Siddhis

FAQs

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

It portrays the Lord’s supremacy (Pati) as even sacred rivers and the eight Siddhis become attendants, implying that powers and purity are fulfilled when they serve devotion to Shiva rather than become ends in themselves.

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

The imagery of fanning, presence, and dance reflects Saguna worship—Shiva experienced as a personal, gracious Lord with a divine retinue—supporting temple and Liṅga worship where service (upacāra) expresses bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer upacāras in Shiva-puja (e.g., fanning, ārati, stotra) while mentally surrendering all “siddhis” to Shiva; chant the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the intent that spiritual attainments remain instruments of devotion.