Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

शिवरूपदर्शनम्

Menā’s Vision of Śiva’s Divine Form

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच इत्थमुक्त्वा तु वचनं चन्दनैश्चाक्षतैरपि । शिवं समर्चयामासुर्लाजान्ववृषुरादरात्

Transliteration

brahmovāca itthamuktvā tu vacanaṃ candanaiścākṣatairapi | śivaṃ samarcayāmāsurlājānvavṛṣurādarāt

Translation

梵天说道：说罢此言，他们以檀香膏与整粒净米礼拜供奉湿婆；又怀至诚恭敬，向祂纷纷洒下炒熟谷粒作为供献。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• उक्त्वा: having spoken
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• वचनम्: speech/words
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• चन्दनैः: with sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अक्षतैः: with unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• समर्चयामासुः: they worshipped
• समर्चयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: सम्

• लाजान्: parched grains (lajā)
• लाजान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• अववृषुः: they showered/scattered
• अववृषुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अव

• आदरात्: out of reverence
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (cause)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models temple/household upacāra: simple offerings (candana, akṣata, lāja) offered with ādarā (reverence) are sufficient to invoke Śiva’s grace.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through simple, pure offerings—sandal paste and akṣata—performed with ādarā (reverence), showing that devotion and sincerity are central to pleasing Śiva.

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

The verse depicts Saguna-style upacāra (formal worship) using auspicious substances; such offerings are standard in Liṅga-pūjā as outward signs of inward surrender to Pati (Śiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śiva-pūjā with chandana and akṣata while maintaining reverence; mentally accompany the offering with Shiva-nāma or the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") as a focused devotional practice.