Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

हरिश्चन्द्रो हालिकं च वृषल्यासह संयुतम् । चारयामास निश्चेष्टं निर्जनं तत्फलं शृणु

Transliteration

hariścandro hālikaṃ ca vṛṣalyāsaha saṃyutam | cārayāmāsa niśceṣṭaṃ nirjanaṃ tatphalaṃ śṛṇu

Translation

König Hariścandra vertrieb auch Hālika—zusammen mit der mit ihm verbundenen vṛṣalyā (der außerhalb der Kaste stehenden Frau)—machte ihn kraftlos und schickte ihn an einen öden, menschenleeren Ort. Nun höre die Frucht (Folge) dieser Tat.

Word by Word

• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Hariścandra
• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिश्चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हालिकम्: a ploughman / farmer
• हालिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हालिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वृषल्यासह: together with a vṛṣalyā (Śūdra woman)
• वृषल्यासह: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषल्या + सह (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः (‘वृषल्यया सह’ = with a Śūdra woman); समासान्त-रूपं विशेषणवत्, द्वितीया-एकवचन नपुंसकं ‘संयुतम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• संयुतम्: joined, accompanied
• संयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) → संयुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘हालिकम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• चारयामास: made (him) wander / drove about
• चारयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) + लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• निश्चेष्टम्: motionless, inert
• निश्चेष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + चेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘हालिकम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• निर्जनम्: in a lonely place / solitary
• निर्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘हालिकम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तत्-फलम्: that result
• तत्-फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘तस्य फलम्’ = its result)

• शृणु: hear
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Hariścandra
• Hālika

FAQs

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

The verse highlights karma-phala (the inevitable fruit of actions) and the Shaiva ethical emphasis that right conduct and right association shape one’s spiritual destiny; the narrator prepares the listener to understand the consequence that follows from Hariścandra’s decisive act.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion indirectly: in the Shiva Purana, moral discipline and purification of one’s life are repeatedly presented as supportive conditions for fruitful Shiva-bhakti and for receiving grace through Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is inner and outer śuddhi (purification): maintain sāttvika conduct, avoid harmful associations, and reinforce Shiva-oriented discipline through daily japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and, where appropriate, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of renunciation.