Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 65

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

प्रविष्टे नगरीं दैत्ये देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः । सुवर्णाद्रिगुहां प्राप्ता न्यवसन्दैत्यतापिताः

Transliteration

praviṣṭe nagarīṃ daitye devāḥ śakrapurogamāḥ | suvarṇādriguhāṃ prāptā nyavasandaityatāpitāḥ

Translation

لما دخل الدَّيتيا المدينة، هربت الآلهة بقيادة شَكرا (إندرا) إلى كهف الجبل الذهبي؛ وقد أنهكتهم قسوة الدَّيتيا واضطهاده، فأقاموا هناك ملتجئين.

Word by Word

• प्रविष्टे: when (he) had entered
• प्रविष्टे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु) → प्रविष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masc/Neut) — क्त (past passive participle) used in locative absolute (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे/सप्तमी-absolute)

• नगरीम्: the city
• नगरीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगरī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• दैत्ये: when the demon (was) (there/entered)
• दैत्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular) — with प्रविष्टे forms locative absolute

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शक्र-पुरोगमाः: led by Indra
• शक्र-पुरोगमाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject) — देवाः qualifies
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) — षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘शक्रः पुरोगमः यस्य/येषाम्’ in sense ‘with Indra in front/led by Indra’

• सुवर्णाद्रि-गुहाम्: the cave of Suvarṇādri (golden mountain)
• सुवर्णाद्रि-गुहाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) — goal of motion
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular) — षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे: ‘सुवर्णाद्रेः गुहा’ (cave of the golden mountain)

• प्राप्ताः: having reached
• प्राप्ताः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) — क्त (past passive participle) used predicatively with देवाः

• न्यवसन्: they stayed/dwelt
• न्यवसन्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-अवस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• दैत्य-तापिताः: tormented by the demon
• दैत्य-तापिताः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तप् (धातु) → तापित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural) — तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/करण-निर्देश: ‘दैत्येन तापिताः’ (tormented by the demon), क्त (PPP) used adjectivally for देवाः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The devas’ flight to a mountain cave functions as a purāṇic ‘refuge motif’ (śaraṇāgati) that typically culminates in seeking Śiva’s protection; no specific jyotirliṅga is named here.

Significance: Allegorical: taking refuge (guhā) signifies inward withdrawal from māyā’s turmoil, preparing for grace (anugraha).

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Devas
• Daitya

FAQs

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

It shows that even the Devas, when overpowered by adharma, must seek a higher refuge—implying that ultimate protection and restoration of order rests with Pati (Lord Shiva), beyond worldly power.

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

The Devas’ retreat highlights the need for a tangible refuge in crisis; in Shaiva practice, the Shiva-Linga functions as that accessible Saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent Nirguna Shiva for protection and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In times of fear and instability, take śaraṇāgati through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady worship with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of Shiva’s protective sovereignty.