Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । श्रुत्वा हरस्तद्वचनं प्रियाया लीलाकरस्सृष्टिकृतोंऽधरूपाम् । लीलाकरायास्त्रिजगज्जनन्या विहस्य किंचिद्भगवानुवाच

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | śrutvā harastadvacanaṃ priyāyā līlākarassṛṣṭikṛtoṃ'dharūpām | līlākarāyāstrijagajjananyā vihasya kiṃcidbhagavānuvāca

Translation

萨那特库玛罗说道：听到爱妃之言——她为神圣之戏（līlā）而现能引生创造之相，乃三界之母——主诃罗微微一笑，遂开口说道。

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सनत्=सदा/पुरातन + कुमार)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having heard’

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• प्रियायाः: of (his) beloved
• प्रियायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• लीलाकरः: the maker/agent of play (one who acts in sport)
• लीलाकरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला + कर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद: ‘लीलायाः करः’

• सृष्टिकृतः: creator of creation
• सृष्टिकृतः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृष्टि + कृत (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘सृष्टेः कर्ता’

• अधःरूपाम्: having a low/ugly form
• अधःरूपाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधः + रूप (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘अधः (नीचं) रूपं यस्याः’

• लीलाकरायाः: of Līlākarā
• लीलाकरायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीलाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (name/epithet in feminine)

• त्रिजगत्: three worlds
• त्रिजगत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + जगत् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (as member); द्विगु ‘त्रीणि जगन्ति’

• जनन्याः: of the mother
• जनन्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जननी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• विहस्य: having smiled/laughed
• विहस्य: पूर्वकाल (Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive) with vi-; अव्ययभाव; ‘having laughed/smiled’

• किञ्चित्: a little
• किञ्चित्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय; अल्पपरिमाण/indefinite adverb ‘a little’

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva view that creation unfolds through Śiva’s conscious lordship (Pati) in harmony with Śakti, the Mother of the three worlds, and that even cosmic acts arise from līlā—divine freedom rather than necessity.

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

By portraying Hara as a responsive, gracious Lord who smiles and speaks, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as a personal, compassionate deity—while implying his transcendence behind manifested forms, as symbolized in Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate bhakti with mindful recitation of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while contemplating Śiva-Śakti unity—seeing all experiences as arising within divine līlā.