Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

कैलासमार्गे शङ्करस्य परीक्षा — Śiva Tests the Approachers on the Kailāsa Path

Devanagari script

बाहुप्रतिष्टंभभुवामन्युनांतश्शचीपतिः । समदह्यत भोगीव मंत्ररुद्धपराक्रमः

Transliteration

bāhupratiṣṭaṃbhabhuvāmanyunāṃtaśśacīpatiḥ | samadahyata bhogīva maṃtraruddhaparākramaḥ

Translation

Da wurde der Gemahl der Śacī (Indra), dessen Kraft und Tapferkeit durch die Macht des Mantras gebunden waren, vom Zorn derer versengt, die er einst mit seinen Armen aufgehalten hatte—wie eine Schlange, die in sich selbst verbrennt.

Word by Word

• bāhu-pratiṣṭambha-bhuvā: by the support of (his) arms
• bāhu-pratiṣṭambha-bhuvā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक) + pratiṣṭambha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhū (धातु) → bhuvā (कृदन्त/क्तिन्-भावे/तृतीया)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बाहु-प्रतिṣṭambhaः) + 'bhuvā' (भू-धातोः तृतीया एकवचन)

• manyunām: of the wrathful ones / of the angry (hosts)
• manyunām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• taḥ: he
• taḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); सर्वनाम

• śacī-patiḥ: Śacī’s lord (Indra)
• śacī-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शच्याः पतिः)

• sam-adhahyata: was completely burnt / burned up
• sam-adhahyata: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); आत्मनेपद; उपसर्गः—सम्; धातु—दह् (to burn)

• bhogī: a serpent
• bhogī: Upamāna (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), comparative marker (उपमा-वाचक)

• mantra-ruddha-parākramaḥ: whose prowess was restrained by mantra
• mantra-ruddha-parākramaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + rudh (धातु) → ruddha (कृदन्त/क्त) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय-प्रायः/विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः): मन्त्रेण रुद्धः पराक्रमः यस्य/मन्त्रेण रुद्धः पराक्रमः (पराक्रमः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows that worldly power (parākrama) collapses when opposed by mantra-śakti aligned with dharma; pride is burned by its own reactive anger, while the Shaiva vision upholds inner restraint and surrender to the Supreme (Pati).

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

In Shaiva understanding, mantra derives its efficacy from Shiva as the indwelling Lord of sacred sound; worship of Saguna Shiva (often through the Linga) disciplines ego and aligns the devotee with the divine order that even gods like Indra must honor.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is mantra-japa with humility—especially Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with purity and restraint—since mantra is portrayed as a force that can bind uncontrolled power and burn inner agitation.