Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

अतस्सा बर्बरीत्याख्यामवापातीव गर्हिताम् । धात्रीतुलस्यौ तद्रागात्तस्य प्रीतिप्रदे सदा

Transliteration

atassā barbarītyākhyāmavāpātīva garhitām | dhātrītulasyau tadrāgāttasya prītiprade sadā

Translation

فلذلك عُرِفَت باسم «باربري»، وهو اسمٌ بدا كأنه موضعُ لوم. غير أنّها بفضل تعلّقها التعبّدي كانت على الدوام واهبةَ السرور له، عزيزةً لديه كما تُعَدّ الدهاتري (الأملكي) والتولسي محبوبتين لدى الآلهة.

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/तस्मात्-अर्थक (therefore)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बर्बरी-इति: ‘Barbarī’ (thus)
• बर्बरी-इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बर्बरी (प्रातिपदिक) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-प्रयोग (quotative particle) नामनिर्देशे

• आख्याम्: name/appellation
• आख्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अवाप: obtained
• अवाप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रता-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (intensifier adverb)

• गर्हिताम्: blameworthy/condemned
• गर्हिताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्हित (प्रातिपदिक; गर्ह् धातु + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP)

• धात्री-तुलस्यौ: Dhātrī and Tulasī
• धात्री-तुलस्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धात्री (प्रातिपदिक) + तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): Dhātrī and Tulasī

• तत्-रागात्: from that attachment
• तत्-रागात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तस्मिन् रागः’/‘तस्य रागः’ (that attachment); अपादानार्थे

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

• प्रीति-प्रदे: giving delight
• प्रीति-प्रदे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-दा धातु से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रीतिं प्रददाति’ (giving pleasure)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्व-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sincere attachment and devotion (rāga as steady bhakti) can make one pleasing to the divine, even if one’s outward label or reputation appears “censured.” In Shaiva thought, inner orientation toward Śiva outweighs superficial judgment.

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

By highlighting prīti (divine delight) gained through devotion, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva with love and constancy. Such prīti is traditionally cultivated through Linga-pūjā with offerings like bilva, water, and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady bhakti expressed as daily mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga worship with pure offerings, performed consistently to deepen prīti (loving communion) with Lord Śiva.