Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 66

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

स कदाचित्ततस्स्थानादन्यद्याति स्थलं हरः । कदाचिन्मेरुशिखरं देवी देववृतं सदा

Transliteration

sa kadācittatassthānādanyadyāti sthalaṃ haraḥ | kadācinmeruśikharaṃ devī devavṛtaṃ sadā

Translation

有时，诃罗（湿婆）离开那处居所，前往别处；有时，噢女神，他登上须弥山之巅，常为诸天所环绕。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• कदाचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time: 'sometimes')

• ततः: from there
• ततः: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from there/thereafter')

• स्थानात्: from (his) place
• स्थानात्: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अन्यत्: another
• अन्यत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• याति: goes
• याति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्थलम्: place/ground
• स्थलम्: Karma (कर्म/destination as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शिवनाम (name of Śiva)

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• कदाचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (sometimes)

• मेरु-शिखरम्: the peak of Meru
• मेरु-शिखरम्: Karma (कर्म/destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मेरोः शिखरम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवी: the Goddess (Satī)
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देव-वृतम्: surrounded by gods
• देव-वृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + वृत (कृदन्त; वृ धातु)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवैः वृतम् = surrounded by gods); भूतकृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (मेरुशिखरम्)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्ववाचक अव्यय (adverb: always)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Śiva’s free, unimpeded movement (svātantrya) from His abode to other realms, including Meru, as part of divine līlā witnessed by the devas.

Significance: Meru functions as a cosmological archetype (axis mundi) rather than a mapped tīrtha here; the spiritual import is contemplation of Śiva as sovereign Lord (Pati) beyond spatial limitation.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmographic setting: Meru as deva-encircled summit (divine assembly locus).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi
• Meru
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s sovereign freedom (svātantrya) in his divine play—though ever transcendent, he is also personally present in sacred abodes, making grace and darśana accessible to gods and devotees.

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

Śiva’s movement among holy places supports Saguna devotion: devotees approach him through consecrated spaces and forms (including the Liṅga), where his grace is specially experienced without denying his ultimate transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice place-sanctifying remembrance: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while mentally visualizing Śiva in a sacred abode (Meru/Kailāsa), and offering simple worship (water, bilva, or vibhūti) with devotion.