Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

तन्निशम्य ततो दैत्यो रोषात्प्रस्फुरिताधरः । उद्योगमकरोत्तूर्णं सर्वदेवजिगीषया

Transliteration

tanniśamya tato daityo roṣātprasphuritādharaḥ | udyogamakarottūrṇaṃ sarvadevajigīṣayā

Translation

Als der Asura dies hörte, bebten seine Lippen vor Zorn; sogleich begann er seine Vorbereitungen, getrieben vom Wunsch, alle Götter zu besiegen.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (message)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; object of 'निशम्य'

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having heard/learnt'

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थ (then/thereupon)

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रोषात्: from anger; out of wrath
• रोषात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/अपादान (ablative), एकवचन; कारणार्थ

• प्रस्फुरित-अधरः: with quivering lips
• प्रस्फुरित-अधरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्फुरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्फुर् धातु) + अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अधरः प्रस्फुरितः यस्य = 'with quivering lip' (descriptive)

• उद्योगम्: preparation/effort
• उद्योगम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• अकरोत्: made; undertook
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• सर्व-देव-जिगीषया: with the desire to conquer all the gods
• सर्व-देव-जिगीषया: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + जिगीषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया/करण (instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वान् देवान् जेतुम् इच्छा = 'with the desire to conquer all gods'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays the asuric impulse—wrath turning into urgent action aimed at domination. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such krodha strengthens pāśa (bondage) and drives the soul outward into conflict rather than inward toward Shiva-centered discipline and liberation.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it functions as a contrast: the daitya seeks victory over devas, while the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva (Linga-worship) to subdue inner enemies like anger and ego, aligning will and action with dharma and Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is anger-restraint through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and mindful breath before action—transforming impulsive krodha into Shiva-oriented steadiness (śānti) and right effort.