Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship

Devanagari script

यमगणा ऊचुः । कुलाचारं प्रतीर्य्यैष पित्रोर्वाक्यपराङ्मुखः । सत्यशौचपरिभ्रष्टस्संध्यास्नानविवर्जितः

Transliteration

yamagaṇā ūcuḥ | kulācāraṃ pratīryyaiṣa pitrorvākyaparāṅmukhaḥ | satyaśaucaparibhraṣṭassaṃdhyāsnānavivarjitaḥ

Translation

The attendants of Yama said: “This man has cast aside the established duties of his family and tradition (kulācāra); he has turned away from the words of his father and mother. He has fallen from truthfulness and purity, and he has abandoned the daily rites of sandhyā and ritual bathing.”

Word by Word

• यमगणाः: the attendants of Yama
• यमगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (यमस्य गणाः)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुलाचारम्: family conduct/tradition
• कुलाचारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कुलस्य आचारः)

• प्रतीर्य: having transgressed
• प्रतीर्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति + ईर्/इ (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having transgressed/overstepped)

• एषः: this person
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पित्रोः: of (his) two parents
• पित्रोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• वाक्यपराङ्मुखः: turned away from (disobedient to) the words
• वाक्यपराङ्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक्य + पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वाक्येभ्यः पराङ्मुखः = turned away from the words)

• सत्यशौचपरिभ्रष्टः: fallen from truth and purity
• सत्यशौचपरिभ्रष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + शौच + परिभ्रष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सत्य-शौचयोः परिभ्रष्टः = fallen from truth and purity); परिभ्रष्ट = परि + भ्रंश् (धातु) + क्त

• संध्यास्नानविवर्जितः: one who has abandoned sandhyā-bath (daily twilight rites)
• संध्यास्नानविवर्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संध्या + स्नान + विवर्जित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (संध्यास्नानं विवर्जितः = devoid of twilight-bath/ritual); विवर्जित = वि + वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त

Speaker

Yamagaṇas (attendants of Yama)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Yama

FAQs

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

It portrays bondage (pāśa) as reinforced by adharma—rejecting truth, purity, and daily disciplines—showing how neglect of nitya-karmas weakens inner readiness for Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship in the Purana is upheld by śauca (purity), satya (truth), and regular observances; abandoning sandhyā and snāna signals a life turned away from the devotional order that supports Shiva-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily sandhyā worship and snāna with purity and truthfulness; in Shaiva practice this is naturally complemented by regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct.