Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

अनरण्यसुता–पिप्पलादचरितम् / The Episode of Anaraṇya’s Daughter and Sage Pippalāda

Devanagari script

विप्रं तपस्सु निरतं निर्घृणं मरणोन्मुखम् । त्वक्त्वा मां पश्य राजेन्द्रं रतिशूरं स्मरातुरम्

Transliteration

vipraṃ tapassu nirataṃ nirghṛṇaṃ maraṇonmukham | tvaktvā māṃ paśya rājendraṃ ratiśūraṃ smarāturam

Translation

হে ৰাজেন্দ্ৰ! মোক এৰি সেই ব্ৰাহ্মণজনক চোৱা—তপস্যাত নিমগ্ন, নিৰ্দয় আৰু মৃত্যুমুখী; সি স্মৰাতুৰ, ৰতি-শূৰ বীৰৰ দৰে দেখা যায়।

Word by Word

• विप्रम्: a brāhmaṇa
• विप्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तपःसु: in austerities
• तपःसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• निरतम्: engaged (in)
• निरतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरत (प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विप्रम्)

• निर्घृणम्: merciless
• निर्घृणम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्घृण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विप्रम्)

• मरण-उन्मुखम्: facing death, death-bound
• मरण-उन्मुखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विप्रम्)

• त्वक्त्वा: having abandoned
• त्वक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय; रूपम् ‘त्वक्त्वा’ (त्यक्त्वा)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पश्य: see, look
• पश्य: Preraka-kriya (आज्ञार्थ-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राजेन्द्रम्: king of kings, great king
• राजेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रति-शूरम्: heroic in love/pleasure
• रति-शूरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक) + शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राजेन्द्रम्)

• स्मर-आतुरम्: afflicted by desire (Kāma)
• स्मर-आतुरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (राजेन्द्रम्)

Speaker

Pārvatī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Kama (Smaradeva)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the inner conflict between tapas (austerity aimed at higher realization) and smara (desire). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it points to the need to transcend pasha (bondage such as kama) so the soul may turn steadily toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By contrasting desire-torment with ascetic resolve, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship (Linga as a stable focus) to purify the mind. Devotional discipline—puja, japa, and reverence—reorients the seeker from passion toward Shiva as the liberating Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt tapas in a Shaiva way: daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), mental restraint, and steady meditation on Shiva/Linga; optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and devotion.