Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

कैलासगमनं कुबेरसख्यं च — Śiva’s Journey to Kailāsa and His Friendship with Kubera

Devanagari script

संत्यक्तब्राह्मणाचारः संध्यास्नानपराङ्मुखः । निंदको वेदशास्त्राणां देवब्राह्मणनिंदकः

Transliteration

saṃtyaktabrāhmaṇācāraḥ saṃdhyāsnānaparāṅmukhaḥ | niṃdako vedaśāstrāṇāṃ devabrāhmaṇaniṃdakaḥ

Translation

Er hat das für einen Brāhmaṇa gebotene Verhalten aufgegeben und sich von den täglichen Sandhyā-Gebeten und dem reinigenden Bad abgewandt. Er schmäht die Veden und die Śāstras; ja, er verleumdet sowohl die Devas als auch die Brāhmaṇas.

Word by Word

• saṃtyakta-brāhmaṇa-ācāraḥ: one who has abandoned Brahminical conduct
• saṃtyakta-brāhmaṇa-ācāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃ-tyakta (त्यज् धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—ब्राह्मणाचारं संत्यक्तः (one who has abandoned Brahminical conduct)

• saṃdhyā-snāna-parāṅmukhaḥ: averse to sandhyā and bathing
• saṃdhyā-snāna-parāṅmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक) + parāṅmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—संध्यास्नानेभ्यः पराङ्मुखः (turned away from twilight-prayers and bathing)

• niṃdakaḥ: reviler
• niṃdakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṃdaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि नाम (agent noun: reviler)

• veda-śāstrāṇām: of the Vedas and śāstras
• veda-śāstrāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/object-of-reviling)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व—वेदाः च शास्त्राणि च

• deva-brāhmaṇa-niṃdakaḥ: reviler of gods and Brahmins
• deva-brāhmaṇa-niṃdakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + niṃdaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—देवान् ब्राह्मणान् च निन्दति इति (reviler of gods and Brahmins)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages, Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

The verse defines adharma through neglect of daily purifying disciplines (sandhyā and snāna) and through contempt for śāstra and the sacred community. In a Śaiva Siddhānta frame, such nindā hardens paśu-bound impurity (mala) and obstructs devotion and grace (anugraha) that lead toward mokṣa.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship in the Purāṇic path is grounded in śraddhā and śāstric discipline. One who rejects Veda-śāstra and insults Devas and brāhmaṇas undermines the very attitudes—reverence, purity, and humility—that make Linga pūjā fruitful and receptive to Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain sandhyā worship and regular snāna as foundational sādhana, and avoid nindā of scripture and the divine. As a practical Śaiva takeaway, approach Śiva pūjā with purity and respect, supporting mantra-japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī) with disciplined daily conduct.