Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

धर्षिता भूतवेतालैर्दारास्सुतपरिग्रहाः । यथा कलियुगे जारैर्बलेन कुलयोषितः

Transliteration

dharṣitā bhūtavetālairdārāssutaparigrahāḥ | yathā kaliyuge jārairbalena kulayoṣitaḥ

Translation

Ehefrauen, Kinder und alles, was man als Hausstand beansprucht, werden von Bhūtas und Vetālas bedrängt—wie im Kali-Zeitalter Frauen aus ehrbaren Familien von lüsternen Ehebrechern mit Gewalt geschändet werden.

Word by Word

• धर्षिताः: violated/assaulted
• धर्षिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धर्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having been violated/assaulted’

• भूतवेतालैः: by bhūtas and vetālas
• भूतवेतालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + वेताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (भूताश्च वेतालाश्च)

• दाराः: wives
• दाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (नित्यबहुवचन)

• सुतपरिग्रहाः: children and possessions (lit. ‘sons/offspring as dependents/possessions’)
• सुतपरिग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत + परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुतस्य परिग्रहः)

• यथा: as, just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative ‘as/like’)

• कलियुगे: in the Kali age
• कलियुगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलियुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कलेः युगम्)

• जारैः: by adulterers/paramours
• जारैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• बलेन: by force
• बलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कुलयोषितः: women of good families
• कुलयोषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुलस्य योषितः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga (age of decline)

FAQs

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

It warns that in Kali Yuga, when dharma weakens, the pashu (bound soul) becomes vulnerable to pasha—fear, lust, violence, and unseen afflictions—so household identity and attachment become sources of suffering unless anchored in Śiva-bhakti and right conduct.

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

Saguna Śiva as the Liṅga is approached as the protector and purifier: worship steadies the mind, restores dharmic order, and cuts down tamasic influences symbolized here by bhūtas/vetālas and predatory impulses characteristic of Kali Yuga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Śiva through regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), maintain Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa with purity of conduct, and keep a daily rhythm of Śiva-pūjā to reduce fear, tamas, and harmful influences.