Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

मंदारस्तन पीलूनां शब्देन हृषिता मुहुः । केकायंते प्रतिवने सततं पृष्ठसूचकम्

Transliteration

maṃdārastana pīlūnāṃ śabdena hṛṣitā muhuḥ | kekāyaṃte prativane satataṃ pṛṣṭhasūcakam

Translation

因曼陀罗-斯坦那鸟与毗卢鸟的鸣声屡屡令人欢悦，诸林之中孔雀不断啼叫，仿佛总在指向身后之事，暗示将来之兆。

Word by Word

• मन्दार-स्तन-पीलूनाम्: of the pīlu trees with mandāra-like breasts (clusters)
• मन्दार-स्तन-पीलूनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दार (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + पीलु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (मन्दार-स्तन-सदृशाः पीलवः/पीलवृक्षाः इति व्याख्येयम्)

• शब्देन: by the sound
• शब्देन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• हृषिता: delighted
• हृषिता: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृषित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle from हृष्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (implicit subject: some feminine entity e.g., दिशः/वनदेवता)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्तिवाचक/कालवाचक (again and again)

• केकायन्ते: they cry/cackle
• केकायन्ते: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: केकाय् (धातु; केकायति)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्रति-वने: in every forest
• प्रति-वने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः, अर्थः ‘प्रत्येकं वने’ (in each forest)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सततम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नित्यत्ववाचक (constantly)

• पृष्ठ-सूचकम्: indicating the back (hinting from behind)
• पृष्ठ-सूचकम्: कर्म/क्रियाविशेषण (Karma/Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + सूचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः (पृष्ठं सूचयति इति) क्रियाविशेषणवत्/विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Nature-omens and heightened sensory description around Himālaya; serves as narrative foreshadowing rather than site-māhātmya.

Significance: Encourages ‘nimitta-vicāra’ (reading omens) as a Purāṇic narrative device; for devotees, it underscores that prakṛti mirrors inner states before major karmic turns.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse uses auspicious natural sounds—birds and peacocks—to signal a sacred, divinely guided atmosphere. In Shaiva understanding, nature reflects the presence of Pati (Śiva) and hints at the unfolding of karmic and divine events, encouraging attentive, devotional awareness.

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

Though it does not mention the Liṅga directly, it frames the world as responsive to Śiva’s saguna līlā—where the Lord’s manifest presence is mirrored by auspicious signs. Such imagery supports temple and Liṅga worship by presenting creation as a field that resonates with Śiva’s grace and intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mindful japa and contemplation: observe auspiciousness without distraction, and steady the mind on Śiva through the Pañcākṣarī (‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) while cultivating reverence for sacred spaces (vana/ārāma) as supportive environments for bhakti.