Shloka 22

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

दूतस्त्रिविष्टपं तस्य जगामारमलं सुधीः । घस्मरोंऽबुधिबालस्य सर्वदेवसमन्वितम्

Transliteration

dūtastriviṣṭapaṃ tasya jagāmāramalaṃ sudhīḥ | ghasmaroṃ'budhibālasya sarvadevasamanvitam

Translation

Then that wise and pure messenger went to his Triviṣṭapa (heaven)—a spotless celestial realm—accompanied by all the gods, to the presence of Ghasmara, the childish one of immature understanding.

Word by Word

• दूतः: the messenger
• दूतः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

• त्रिविष्टपम्: to heaven
• त्रिविष्टपम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविष्टप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘स्वर्ग’

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अमलम्: spotless / pure
• अमलम्: कर्म (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (त्रिविष्टपम्)

• सुधीः: the wise (one)
• सुधीः: कर्ता (Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘wise one’

• घस्मरः: Ghasmara
• घस्मरः: कर्ता (Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घस्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• अबुधि-बालस्य: of the foolish boy
• अबुधि-बालस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अबुधि (प्रातिपदिक) + बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘अबुधिः (मूर्खः) बालः’

• सर्व-देव-समन्वितम्: accompanied by all the gods
• सर्व-देव-समन्वितम्: कर्म (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (कृदन्त, सम्-अनु-√इ/√वृ? रूढ ‘समन्वित’ क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (त्रिविष्टपम्); ‘सर्वैः देवैः समन्वितम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Ghasmara
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts purity and wise discernment (sudhī, niramala) with childish lack of discrimination (abudhi-bāla), implying that spiritual maturity and clarity are essential for aligning with dharma and approaching the divine order upheld under Shiva’s lordship.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative framework typically shows the devas seeking restoration of cosmic balance—ultimately dependent on Saguna Shiva’s protecting grace (anugraha) when beings act from ignorance and disorder.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is cultivation of buddhi (discernment) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and purification disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa, which are traditionally associated in the Shiva Purana with inner clarity and steadiness.