Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

महेश उवाच । हे दैत्यनाथ कुरु नेन्द्रियसंघपातं किमर्थमेतद्व्रतमाश्रितं ते । प्रब्रूहि कामं वरदो भवोऽहं यदिच्छसि त्वं सकलं ददामि

Transliteration

maheśa uvāca | he daityanātha kuru nendriyasaṃghapātaṃ kimarthametadvratamāśritaṃ te | prabrūhi kāmaṃ varado bhavo'haṃ yadicchasi tvaṃ sakalaṃ dadāmi

Translation

Mahēśa sprach: „O Herr der Dāityas, verderbe nicht die Schar deiner Sinne. Zu welchem Zweck hast du dieses Gelübde auf dich genommen? Sprich den Wunsch deines Herzens aus. Ich bin Bhava, der Spender von Gnaden—was immer du begehrst, das werde ich dir ganz gewähren.“

Word by Word

• महेशः: Mahēśa (Śiva)
• महेशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• हे: O
• हे: सम्बोधन (Address marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधनसूचक निपात (vocative particle)

• दैत्य-नाथ: O lord of demons
• दैत्य-नाथ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• कुरु: do / perform
• कुरु: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle), अव्यय

• इन्द्रिय-संघ-पातम्: the fall/ruin of the senses (sense-collapse)
• इन्द्रिय-संघ-पातम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + संघ (प्रातिपदिक) + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘इन्द्रियाणां संघः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, ततः ‘संघस्य पातः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• किम्-अर्थम्: for what purpose? why?
• किम्-अर्थम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

• एतत्-व्रतम्: this vow
• एतत्-व्रतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• आश्रितम्: undertaken
• आश्रितम्: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicative to ‘व्रतम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘undertaken/resorted to’

• ते: by you / your
• ते: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी (4/6), एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (genitive) ‘by you/your’ सन्दर्भे

• प्रब्रूहि: tell (me)
• प्रब्रूहि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कामम्: the desired (boon)
• कामम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘इच्छितम्’ अर्थे (as desired thing)

• वरदः: boon-giving
• वरदः: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘अहम्’)

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; शिवनाम

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: सम्बन्ध (Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• इच्छसि: you desire
• इच्छसि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सकलम्: everything
• सकलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘all (that)’

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Mahesha/Bhava)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daitya leader (Daityanatha)

FAQs

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

Shiva emphasizes that austerity and vows are not meant for self-harm; true discipline is purposeful and aligned with dharma. As Pati (the Lord), he tests the intention behind tapas and offers grace when the seeker’s aim is clearly expressed.

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

Shiva appears as Saguna Mahesha—personally speaking, guiding, and granting boons. This reflects how devotees approach the Linga as a living presence of Shiva: not merely for hardship, but for conscious surrender, right intention, and receiving Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies disciplined vratam with balanced indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) rather than extreme self-torment—supported by Shiva-bhakti practices like japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful observance of vows.