Shloka 23

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

तत्र गत्वा स दूतस्तु सुधर्मां प्राप्य सत्वरम् । गर्वादखर्वमौलिर्हि देवेन्द्रं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tatra gatvā sa dūtastu sudharmāṃ prāpya satvaram | garvādakharvamaulirhi devendraṃ vākyamabravīt

Translation

Having gone there, the messenger quickly reached Sudharmā. Then, with pride—his head held high—he spoke these words to Devendra (Indra).

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया ‘having gone’

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• तु: indeed / but
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle)

• सुधर्माम्: Sudharmā (the assembly hall)
• सुधर्माम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधर्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; सभानाम (name of the hall)

• प्राप्य: having reached
• प्राप्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having reached’

• सत्वरम्: quickly
• सत्वरम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गर्वात्: out of pride
• गर्वात्: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5/हेतु), एकवचन; कारण/हेतु-अर्थे

• अखर्व-मौलिः: with an unbowed head
• अखर्व-मौलिः: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मौलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘अखर्वः (उन्नतः/अविनतः) मौलिः यस्य’

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/हेतु-निपात (emphatic particle)

• देवेन्द्रम्: to Devendra (Indra)
• देवेन्द्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: words / a message
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Devendra)
• Sudharmā (assembly hall)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how pride (garva/ahaṅkāra) colors speech and intention. In Shaiva Siddhānta, humility and alignment with Śiva’s will are prerequisites for grace; arrogant messaging foreshadows conflict and downfall.

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

Though not directly about Liṅga worship, it contrasts worldly authority (Indra’s court) with the higher sovereignty of Saguna Śiva who governs dharma and the fruits of karma. Devotional surrender to Śiva is presented as superior to pride in rank or power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter pride through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a humble sankalpa, optionally applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and self-restraint in speech.