Shloka 16

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

शिरश्छेदं चकारासौ पिबतश्चामृतं हरिः । राहोर्देवसभां हि पक्षपाती हरेस्सदा

Transliteration

śiraśchedaṃ cakārāsau pibataścāmṛtaṃ hariḥ | rāhordevasabhāṃ hi pakṣapātī haressadā

Translation

Hari (Viṣṇu), even as Rāhu was drinking amṛta, cut off his head. Indeed, in the assembly of the gods, Hari ever takes the side of the Devas against Rāhu.

Word by Word

• śiraḥ-cheदम्: beheading / cutting off the head
• śiraḥ-cheदम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras + cheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: śiraścheda = “cutting of the head” (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• cakāra: did / performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• asau: he (that one)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• pibataḥ: of (him) drinking
• pibataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: Present participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; from pibant-; “of (him) drinking”

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• amṛtam: nectar (amṛta)
• amṛtam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• hariḥ: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• rāhoḥ: of Rāhu
• rāhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• deva-sabhām: the gods’ assembly
• deva-sabhām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + sabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: devasabhā = “assembly of the gods” (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• pakṣa-pātī: partial; taking sides
• pakṣa-pātī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pakṣa + pāti(n) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; adjective meaning “partial/favoring a side”; compound: pakṣapātī (तत्पुरुष)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल/temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Rāhu’s beheading during amṛta episode; etiological seed for eclipse myth in later retellings

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Rahu
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that immortality or power (amṛta) is not the highest good when sought through deceit; cosmic order (dharma) prevails. From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, true freedom is gained not by stolen nectar but by grace and right alignment with Pati (Śiva) through devotion and purification.

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

By showing the limits of worldly boons, it turns the seeker toward Saguna Śiva worship—Linga-upāsanā, mantra, and disciplined conduct—as the stable refuge beyond factional struggles of devas and asuras. The narrative encourages reliance on Śiva’s protecting presence rather than mere celestial privileges.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical takeaway, one may steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and observe purity of intention; for traditional Śaiva practice, applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing Rudrākṣa are supportive disciplines to restrain deceitful impulses and cultivate dharma.