Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

स्मृत्याचारविहीनस्तु गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक् । नटपाखंडभाण्डैस्तु बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः

Transliteration

smṛtyācāravihīnastu gītavādyavinodabhāk | naṭapākhaṃḍabhāṇḍaistu baddhapremaparaṃparaḥ

Translation

Der der in den Smṛtis gelehrten Zucht und rechten Lebensführung entbehrt, ergötzt sich an Zerstreuung—an Gesang und Instrumenten—und wird durch Schauspieler, heuchlerische Scharlatane und Possenreißer an eine stets wachsende Kette weltlicher Anhaftungen gebunden.

Word by Word

• स्मृति-आचार-विहीनः: devoid of tradition and proper conduct
• स्मृति-आचार-विहीनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: स्मृत्या च आचारेण च विहीनः (instrumental-relation implied)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/विरोधार्थक (particle, adversative/emphatic)

• गीत-वाद्य-विनोद-भाक्: one who indulges in amusements of singing and instruments
• गीत-वाद्य-विनोद-भाक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विनोद (प्रातिपदिक) + भज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त, क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः: भाक् (possessor/enjoyer) = भज् धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः: गीतवाद्यविनोदस्य भाक्

• नट-पाखण्ड-भाण्डैः: by actors, hypocrites, and buffoons
• नट-पाखण्ड-भाण्डैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट (प्रातिपदिक) + पाखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः: नटाश्च पाखण्डाश्च भाण्डाश्च (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• बद्ध-प्रेम-परम्परः: having a chain/series of attachment (love) bound (to them)
• बद्ध-प्रेम-परम्परः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; बन्ध् धातु) + प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक) + परम्परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: बद्धा प्रेमपरम्परा यस्य (अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत्, परन्तु रूपतः तत्पुरुष-समासप्रायः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that neglecting dharma (smṛti-ācāra) and chasing sensory entertainment strengthens pasha—bondage through attachment—obscuring devotion and delaying liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship requires inner and outer discipline—purity, restraint, and right conduct. The verse contrasts such sādhana with distraction and hypocrisy that pull the mind away from steady Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint and replace diversion with Shiva-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī), along with simple daily observances like applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma and maintaining a devotional routine.