Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon

Devanagari script

अन्यानि दिव्यानि तु यद्रसानि फलानि मूलानि सुगंधवंति । संप्राप्य यानानि सुवाहनानि मयेन सृष्टानि गृहोत्तमानि

Transliteration

anyāni divyāni tu yadrasāni phalāni mūlāni sugaṃdhavaṃti | saṃprāpya yānāni suvāhanāni mayena sṛṣṭāni gṛhottamāni

Translation

«وكانت هناك أيضًا ثمارٌ وجذورٌ سماوية أخرى، زاخرة بأطيب المذاقات وعطرة الشذى. وبعد أن نال مركباتٍ فاخرة بمراتب ركوبٍ ممتازة، كانت هناك قصورٌ هي الأبهى—من صنع مايا.»

Word by Word

• anyāni: other
• anyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन (plural)

• divyāni: divine
• divyāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थे (but/indeed)

• yat-rasāni: those having juices/flavours
• yat-rasāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yat (यद्-प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘येषां रसाः’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• phalāni: fruits
• phalāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• mūlāni: roots
• mūlāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• sugandha-vanti: fragrant
• sugandha-vanti: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
• Form: वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (vanti)

• saṃprāpya: having obtained/reached
• saṃprāpya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sam-√prāp (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having obtained/reached’

• yānāni: vehicles
• yānāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• su-vāhanāni: excellent conveyances
• su-vāhanāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (‘सुन्दरं वाहनम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• mayena: by Maya (the asura/architect)
• mayena: Kartṛ (कर्ता) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• sṛṣṭāni: created
• sṛṣṭāni: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• gṛha-uttamāni: excellent houses
• gṛha-uttamāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘गृहाणाम् उत्तमानि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Maya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the abundance of refined enjoyments—fragrant foods, splendid vehicles, and grand dwellings—yet implies they are crafted, composite, and contingent. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such pleasures belong to the realm of experience (bhoga) within māyā, while true fulfillment is Shiva’s grace leading to liberation (mokṣa).

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

By contrasting constructed heavenly luxuries with the higher aim of devotion, it subtly supports turning the mind from mere celestial attainment toward Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-upāsanā). The Linga represents the stable refuge beyond changing enjoyments, guiding the devotee from bhoga to yoga and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vairāgya with steady Shiva-bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while contemplating the impermanence of sensory delights, supported by simple Shaiva observances such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.