Shloka 48

Devanagari script

सस्मार स्वपणं पूर्वं यत्कृतं हरिकोपतः । तत्प्रार्थितोथ रुद्रोसौ मर्यादा प्रतिपालकः

Transliteration

sasmāra svapaṇaṃ pūrvaṃ yatkṛtaṃ harikopataḥ | tatprārthitotha rudrosau maryādā pratipālakaḥ

Translation

He then remembered the former vow he had made because of Hari’s displeasure. Thereafter, though duly entreated, that very Rudra—upholder of sacred propriety and cosmic order—acted in accordance with that bounden restraint.

Word by Word

• सस्मार: remembered
• सस्मार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्व-पणम्: his own pledge/vow
• स्व-पणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य पणः)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्यय (adverb: formerly/before)

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• कृतम्: done/made
• कृतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरि-कोपतः: from/because of Hari’s anger
• हरि-कोपतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (हरेः कोपः) + तसिल्-अर्थे ‘from/because of’

• तत्-प्रार्थितः: having been requested for that
• तत्-प्रार्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रार्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तत् द्वारा प्रार्थितः/तस्मिन् प्रार्थितः)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ (demonstrative)

• मर्यादा: propriety/limit (as principle)
• मर्यादा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्यादा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; (अत्र विशेषणवत्)

• प्रतिपालकः: protector/maintainer
• प्रतिपालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + पाल (धातु) → प्रतिपालक (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ण्वुल्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Rudra as maryādā-pratipālaka—the Lord who, though supreme (Pati), willingly honors vows and dharmic boundaries. Spiritually, it teaches that divine power is guided by truthfulness and order, and that devotees should cultivate the same integrity in speech and intention.

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

Saguna Shiva is worshiped as the compassionate yet disciplined Lord who governs the universe through dharma. Remembering and keeping a vow mirrors Linga-worship’s emphasis on steadiness (niyama) and sincere offering—approaching Shiva not merely for boons, but through aligned conduct and reverence for cosmic law.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vrata-smaraṇa and vrata-pālana—making a sacred resolve and keeping it. In Shaiva practice, one may pair this with daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a simple sankalpa (intent) to uphold truthfulness and restraint as an offering to Rudra.