Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

क्षणप्रदाऽभवत्कांता गौरी मृगदृशी मुदा । लोलापांग्यथ तस्यैव भार्या च सदृशी रतौ

Transliteration

kṣaṇapradā'bhavatkāṃtā gaurī mṛgadṛśī mudā | lolāpāṃgyatha tasyaiva bhāryā ca sadṛśī ratau

Translation

顷刻之间，爱侣化作高丽——鹿目含情，喜悦盈怀。她以灵动的斜睨与俏皮的眼波，竟成了他自己的妻子，在爱与欢悦中与他相称相合。

Word by Word

• kṣaṇa-pradā: instantly granting; moment-giving
• kṣaṇa-pradā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of gaurī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣaṇa-pradā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘क्षणं प्रददाति’ = giving (him) a moment/instant (i.e., instantly granting)

• abhavat: became
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √भू ‘to become’

• kāntā: beloved; wife
• kāntā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate noun of gaurī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāntā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gaurī: Gaurī
• gaurī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mṛga-dṛśī: doe-eyed
• mṛga-dṛśī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of gaurī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛga-dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘मृगस्य इव दृशौ यस्याः’ = doe-eyed

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Karaṇa (करण) / Bhāva-sādhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with joy’

• lola-apāṅgī: with roving side-glances
• lola-apāṅgī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (of bhāryā/gaurī)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lola-apāṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘लोलाः अपाङ्गाः यस्याः’ = having playful/rolling side-glances

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) = ‘then’

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• sadṛśī: similar; matching
• sadṛśī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ratau: in/with respect to Rati (love/pleasure)
• ratau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Gauri
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the immediate manifestation of Śakti as Gaurī and her perfect consonance with Śiva—teaching that auspiciousness, joy, and spiritual fulfillment arise when Pati (Śiva) and Śakti are contemplated as an inseparable reality.

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

In Saguna worship, the Liṅga signifies Śiva while Gaurī signifies Śakti; this verse supports Liṅga-centered devotion by showing that Śiva’s presence is not isolated but complete with his power (Śakti), making worship fruitful and grace-bestowing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is to meditate on Ardhanārīśvara (Śiva–Śakti as one) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner harmony and devotion before daily Liṅga pūjā.