Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3

Devanagari script

मम भक्तास्तु ते दैत्या मया वध्या कथं सुराः । विचार्यतां भवद्भिश्च धर्मज्ञैरेव धर्मतः

Transliteration

mama bhaktāstu te daityā mayā vadhyā kathaṃ surāḥ | vicāryatāṃ bhavadbhiśca dharmajñaireva dharmataḥ

Translation

„Jene Dāityas sind wahrlich Meine Bhaktas; von Mir sollen sie erschlagen werden—wie könnten es dann die Devas tun? Erwägt dies recht, ihr Dharma-Kundigen, allein gemäß dem Dharma.“

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘दैत्या’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दैत्याḥ: Daityas (demons)
• दैत्याḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वध्याः: to be slain
• वध्याः: Karya/Karma (कार्य/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory passive); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘दैत्याḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• विचार्यताम्: let it be considered
• विचार्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; भावे प्रयोगः (let it be considered)

• भवद्भिः: by you (hon.)
• भवद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; आदरार्थक-सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धर्मज्ञैः: by the knowers of dharma
• धर्मज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (धर्मं जानन्ति ये)

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• धर्मतः: according to dharma / righteously
• धर्मतः: Hetu/Prakara (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-तसिल्-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: -तः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who alone has the authority to dispense karmic justice: even when beings are His devotees, the resolution must still align with dharma, not factional loyalty.

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

In Saguna form, Shiva actively governs the cosmos and its moral order; worship of the Linga honors that sovereign reality where devotion is sacred, yet the Lord’s actions remain dharma-grounded and for cosmic balance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dharma-vicāra with japa: chant the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while examining one’s motives and actions, seeking Shiva’s guidance so devotion matures into righteous conduct.