Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

वराङ्ग्याः सुतजन्म-उत्पातवर्णनम् | Birth of Varāṅgī’s Son and the Description of Portents

Utpātas

Devanagari script

ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुश्चैकपादो रविं पश्यन्स चक्षुषा । शतवर्षं तपश्चक्रे दृढचित्तो दृढव्रतः

Transliteration

ūrddhvabāhuścaikapādo raviṃ paśyansa cakṣuṣā | śatavarṣaṃ tapaścakre dṛḍhacitto dṛḍhavrataḥ

Translation

Mit erhobenen Armen und auf einem einzigen Fuß stehend, den Blick auf die Sonne gerichtet, vollzog er hundert Jahre lang Askese—standhaft im Geist und fest im Gelübde.

Word by Word

• ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुः: with arms raised
• ऊर्द्ध्वबाहुः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्द्ध्व + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘ऊर्द्ध्वौ बाहू यस्य सः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एकपादः: one-footed (standing on one leg)
• एकपादः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘एकः पादः यस्य सः’

• रविम्: the sun
• रविम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• पश्यन्: seeing
• पश्यन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि

• चक्षुषा: with (his) eye
• चक्षुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण

• शतवर्षम्: for a hundred years
• शतवर्षम्: Kaaladhikarana (कालाधिकरण/duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कालावधि (accusative of duration)

• तपः: austerity; penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• चक्रे: performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दृढचित्तः: firm-minded
• दृढचित्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘दृढं चित्तं यस्य सः’

• दृढव्रतः: of firm vows
• दृढव्रतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘दृढं व्रतं यस्य सः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights tapas as disciplined inner purification: unwavering resolve (dṛḍhacitta) and firm observance (dṛḍhavrata) refine the seeker, weakening bondage (pāśa) and making the heart fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Though the act described is bodily and yogic, its Shaiva intent is to concentrate the mind into one-pointedness; such steadiness supports Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where focused devotion and restraint are emphasized as prerequisites for deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests vrata with sustained meditation and sense-control; in a Shaiva practice frame this pairs well with daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna, undertaken with firm resolve rather than mere physical strain.