Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra

Devanagari script

तत्र विष्णुश्छली दोषी ह्यविवेकी विशे षतः । बलिर्येन पुरा बद्धश्छलमाश्रित्य पापतः

Transliteration

tatra viṣṇuśchalī doṣī hyavivekī viśe ṣataḥ | baliryena purā baddhaśchalamāśritya pāpataḥ

Translation

In dieser Sache ist Viṣṇu wahrlich der Listige—tadelnswert und besonders ohne rechtes Unterscheidungsvermögen—denn einst band er König Bali, indem er sich sündhaft auf eine Täuschung stützte.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there / in that matter
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• छली: deceitful
• छली: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दोषी: faulty / guilty
• दोषी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतुबोधक

• अविवेकी: undiscerning
• अविवेकी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविवेकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Prakarana (प्रकार/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of passive participle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• येन: by whom
• येन: Karana (करण/Instrument; by whom)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (formerly)

• बद्धः: was bound
• बद्धः: Kriya (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• छलम्: deceit
• छलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of āśritya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• पापतः: sinfully / through sin
• पापतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत प्रयोग (ablatival adverb): 'पापतः' = पापेन/पापात्; हेत्वर्थे

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bali

FAQs

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

It highlights that actions rooted in छल (deception) create दोष (moral fault) and bondage; Shaiva teaching emphasizes viveka (right discernment) and purity of means as essential for liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

By contrasting deceit and discernment, the verse implicitly supports Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) as a discipline that purifies intention and action, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s dharma rather than manipulative power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate viveka through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and self-examination before worship; offer Tripuṇḍra-bhasma with the resolve to abandon छल (deceit) and uphold truthful conduct.