Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

स्तब्धात्मा तामसश्शर्वस्त्वमिमं समुपाश्रिता । तेन त्वामवमन्ये ऽहं प्रतिकूलो हि मे भवः

Transliteration

stabdhātmā tāmasaśśarvastvamimaṃ samupāśritā | tena tvāmavamanye 'haṃ pratikūlo hi me bhavaḥ

Translation

Du hast Zuflucht bei Śarva gesucht, dessen Geist erstarrt und von tamasischer Natur ist. Darum verachte ich dich; denn Bhava ist mir wahrlich feindlich gesinnt.

Word by Word

• स्तब्धात्मा: one whose self is rigid/obstinate
• स्तब्धात्मा: कर्ता-विशेषण (subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तब्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √स्तम्भ्) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive)

• तामसः: tamasic, of darkness
• तामसः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of शर्वः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• शर्वः: Śarva (Śiva)
• शर्वः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: सम्बोधन/कर्ता (addressed subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-प्रयोगे (2nd person), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इमम्: this (one)
• इमम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• समुपाश्रिता: (I) have resorted to
• समुपाश्रिता: कर्ता (Karta; predicate participle agreeing with implied feminine speaker)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+उप+आ+√श्रि (धातु) → समुपाश्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘having resorted to’

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अवमन्ये: I disrespect/insult
• अवमन्ये: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+√मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

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

• प्रतिकूलः: unfavorable, adverse
• प्रतिकूलः: कर्ता-विशेषण (predicate adjective of भवः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (for/indeed)

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवः: nature/attitude
• भवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

An unnamed rival deity/antagonistic speaker addressing a devotee aligned with Shiva (inferred from the polemical tone within the Vayu Samhita discourse).

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A polemical characterization of Śiva (Śarva/Bhava) as ‘tāmasa’ reflects the antagonist’s delusion; in Purāṇic narrative logic, such nindā invites Śiva’s corrective action (often via Rudra/Vīrabhadra).

Significance: Highlights the Siddhānta teaching that misapprehending Śiva as guṇa-bound is bondage (pāśa). Pilgrimage/śiva-darśana is framed as a remedy to such delusion through direct encounter and devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse depicts a worldly, ego-driven rejection of a devotee for taking refuge in Shiva. In Shaiva Siddhanta, such blame reflects spiritual ignorance: Pati (Shiva) is the liberator beyond the guṇas, and refuge in him is the decisive turn from bondage (pāśa) toward grace.

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

Calling Shiva “tamasic” is a common misunderstanding from a limited, guṇa-based viewpoint. Linga/Saguna worship trains the mind to recognize Shiva as the supreme Lord (Pati) who pervades and transcends the guṇas; thus, the devotee’s refuge is not darkness but a doorway to illumination through Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steadfast śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” coupled with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of surrender, helps the seeker remain unmoved by criticism and anchored in Shiva-bhakti.