Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas
इति दुंदुभिनिर्ह्रादो मतिं कृत्वा कुलोचिताम् । प्राप्यापि काशीं दुर्वृत्तो मायावी न्यवधीद्द्विजान्
iti duṃdubhinirhrādo matiṃ kṛtvā kulocitām | prāpyāpi kāśīṃ durvṛtto māyāvī nyavadhīddvijān
وهكذا فإنّ دُمْدُبْهِـنِرْهْرَادَ، بعد أن عزم على نهجٍ يليق بسلالته، بلغ كاشي؛ غير أنّ ذلك الخبيث الماكر، وقد أضلّته المايا، قتل حكماءَ البراهمة من الدِّوِجَة.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Despite reaching Kāśī, the māyāvī villain slays dvijas—underscoring that mere proximity to a mokṣa-kṣetra does not negate pāśa (bondage) without inner transformation and Śiva’s anugraha. The episode functions as a negative exemplum within Kāśī’s sacred frame.
Significance: Warns pilgrims: tīrtha is efficacious when approached with dharma and devotion; violence against brāhmaṇas/sādhus is a grave pāpa that blocks grace.
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse underscores that merely reaching a sacred kṣetra like Kāśī does not purify one who remains bound by māyā and adharma; violence against the righteous (dvijas) is a grave obstruction to Shiva’s grace and liberation.
Kāśī is revered as Shiva’s own abode where Saguna Shiva is worshipped as the compassionate Lord; the verse shows that sacred proximity and external association with holy places cannot replace inner purity, devotion, and dharmic conduct required for true Shiva-bhakti.
The implied practice is dharma-aligned Shiva upāsanā: restraint from harm, reverence for brāhmaṇas and saints, and steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to overcome māyā and purify intention.