Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 60

दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse

Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

विशेषाद्रुद्रभक्तानां भयं नास्ति च भूपते । दुःखं करोति विप्रस्य शापार्थं ससुरस्य मे

Transliteration

viśeṣādrudrabhaktānāṃ bhayaṃ nāsti ca bhūpate | duḥkhaṃ karoti viprasya śāpārthaṃ sasurasya me

Translation

يا أيها الملك، إنّ المخلصين لرودرا (شيفا) لا خوفَ عليهم على وجه الخصوص. غير أنّ هذا البراهمن يُجعل يتألّم لكي تقعَ لعنةٌ على حَمِيَّي (أبي زوجتي).

Word by Word

• विशेषात्: especially; in particular
• विशेषात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular); हेत्वर्थे (in sense of cause/especially)

• रुद्रभक्तानाम्: of devotees of Rudra
• रुद्रभक्तानाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रुद्रस्य भक्ताः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भूपते: O king
• भूपते: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दुःखम्: pain, suffering
• दुःखम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• करोति: does; causes
• करोति: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• विप्रस्य: of a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• शापार्थम्: for the purpose of a curse
• शापार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाप + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/प्रयोजन: शापाय अर्थः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); प्रयोजनार्थे (in sense of purpose)

• ससुरस्य: of (my) father-in-law
• ससुरस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ससुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मे: my
• मे: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular); enclitic pronoun

Speaker

Sati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Daksha
• Rudra

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Rudra-bhakti grants inner fearlessness through Shiva’s grace, yet worldly events may still unfold to uphold dharma—here, suffering becomes the instrument through which adharma (Daksha’s offense) is exposed and corrected.

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

Rudra-bhaktas take refuge in Saguna Shiva—Rudra as the compassionate Lord who protects devotees. Linga-worship embodies this refuge: steadfast devotion to Shiva makes the heart fearless even amid conflict in the Daksha narrative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate Rudra-bhakti through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance), developing fearlessness and surrender while remaining aligned with dharma.