Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

नित्यं तेष्वणवो बद्धास्सृष्टक्रोधभयादयः । प्रभावाच्च भवानंगान्यनेकानीह लीलया

Transliteration

nityaṃ teṣvaṇavo baddhāssṛṣṭakrodhabhayādayaḥ | prabhāvācca bhavānaṃgānyanekānīha līlayā

Translation

فيهم تكونُ الأَنُوّاتُ—الأنفسُ الذرّية—مقيَّدةً أبدًا بقيودٍ مخلوقةٍ كالغضب والخوف ونحوهما. وبقوّتِك أنت، أيها الربّ، تُظهر هنا أعضاءً وصورًا كثيرة، إنما على سبيل ليلَاك الإلهية.

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-कालय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया प्रयोगः; अव्ययीभाववत् (adverbial use: always)

• तेषु: in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, बहुवचन, सप्तमी (Locative)

• अणवः: souls/atoms (aṇus)
• अणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• बद्धाः: bound
• बद्धाः: Kriya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; ‘bound’

• सृष्टक्रोधभयादयः: created anger, fear, etc.
• सृष्टक्रोधभयादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्ट (सृज्-धातुज कृदन्त) + क्रोध + भय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ (क्रोधश्च भयश्च आदयश्च; सृष्टाः)

• प्रभावात्: from (your) power/effect
• प्रभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी (Ablative); हेत्वर्थ (because of)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम/आदरार्थ-प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषण

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• लीलया: playfully/as a sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental); प्रकार/उपायार्थ (by way of play)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ensoulment of embodied beings and operation of mala/kleśas within sṛṣṭi

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states the Shaiva Siddhanta core: the aṇu (individual soul) remains bound by pāśas—here exemplified as anger and fear—until liberated by the Lord’s grace; Shiva’s many manifestations operate as compassionate līlā within creation.

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

Because Shiva freely assumes many ‘limbs/forms’ in līlā, Saguna worship—especially the Śiva-liṅga—becomes a valid, accessible focus for devotion that purifies the mind and loosens the fetters like krodha and bhaya.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa and inner restraint: repeat the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady breath and cultivate fearlessness and non-anger; such sādhana supports the cutting of pāśas and prepares one for Shiva’s grace.