Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

पपात पुष्पवृष्टिश्च शिवाशिवशिरस्कयोः । सर्वत्र च मुनिश्रेष्ठ मुदा देवगणोज्झिता

Transliteration

papāta puṣpavṛṣṭiśca śivāśivaśiraskayoḥ | sarvatra ca muniśreṣṭha mudā devagaṇojjhitā

Translation

随即花雨纷纷，洒落在湿婆（Śiva）与圣母湿婆妃（Śivā）的头顶。遍处皆然，噢，最胜牟尼，诸天众神之群（deva-gaṇa）欢喜充满，散布四方而庆贺。

Word by Word

• papāta: fell, descended
• papāta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• puṣpa-vṛṣṭiḥ: a shower of flowers
• puṣpa-vṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (puṣpāṇāṃ vṛṣṭiḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• śiva-aśiva-śiraskayoḥ: on the two heads of Śiva and (A)śivā (Pārvatī/Satī)
• śiva-aśiva-śiraskayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + aśiva (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (śiras), षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचनरूपम्: शिरस्कयोः (Genitive/Locative Dual) 'of/on the two heads'; समासः: द्वन्द्व (śivaś ca aśivaś ca) + तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्धः (their heads)

• sarvatra: everywhere
• sarvatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक

• muni-śreṣṭha: O best of sages
• muni-śreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (munīnām śreṣṭhaḥ)

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• deva-gaṇa-ujjhitā: strewn by the hosts of gods
• deva-gaṇa-ujjhitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjhita (कृदन्त, ud-√hā/√jhā?; here 'sent/strewn', क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (devagaṇena ujjhitā) — 'cast/strewn by the host of gods' (qualifying puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: puṣpavṛṣṭi (celestial flower-shower as divine approval)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shivā (Satī/Devī)
• Devas

FAQs

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

The flower-shower signifies divine approval and auspiciousness: when Śiva and Śakti are honored together, grace (anugraha) becomes manifest and the cosmos responds with joy—an emblem of the harmony that supports dharma and liberation.

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

The verse highlights Saguna worship through visible signs—devas offering flowers to Śiva. In practice, this aligns with liṅga-pūjā where flowers are offered as bhakti, acknowledging Śiva as Pati and the source of blessing through accessible, embodied devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is puṣpa-arcana (offering flowers) with Panchākṣarī japa—chant “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while offering flowers to the Śiva-liṅga, contemplating the inseparable Śiva–Śakti presence as the giver of auspiciousness.