Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

स्त्रीपुंसो रतिविच्छेदमुपायेन करोति यः । तस्य स्त्रीपुत्रयोर्भेदो भवेज्जन्मनि जन्मनि

Transliteration

strīpuṃso rativicchedamupāyena karoti yaḥ | tasya strīputrayorbhedo bhavejjanmani janmani

Translation

مَن يُحدِث بحيلةٍ فراقًا في اتحاد المحبة بين المرأة والرجل، فله يكون الفراق عن الزوجة والأبناء واقعًا، ميلادًا بعد ميلاد.

Word by Word

• स्त्रीपुंसोः: of woman and man
• स्त्रीपुंसोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः (स्त्री च पुंस् च); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• रतिविच्छेदम्: separation of love/union
• रतिविच्छेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + विच्छेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रतेः विच्छेदः (severance of love)

• उपायेन: by a means/strategy
• उपायेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• करोति: does, causes
• करोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative pronoun)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• स्त्रीपुत्रयोः: of (his) wife and son
• स्त्रीपुत्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः (स्त्री च पुत्रः च); षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• भेदः: separation
• भेदः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would occur
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जन्मनि: in (each) birth
• जन्मनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• जन्मनि: in birth after birth
• जन्मनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudra Saṃhitā frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Pashupatinatha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: karma-phala across saṃsāra (janmani janmani)

FAQs

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

It teaches a karmic law central to Shaiva dharma: causing deliberate harm to others’ household harmony (a form of hiṃsā and adharma) produces repeated saṃsāric suffering, here mirrored as separation from one’s own spouse and children across births.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only ritual but moral purification—approaching Saguna Shiva (as the compassionate Lord and dharma-protector) requires restraint, non-injury, and respect for social dharma; violating these obstructs grace (anugraha) and deepens bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ahimsa and self-restraint as a vrata; support it with daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, where traditional, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma application as a reminder to renounce harmful impulses and uphold dharma.