Shloka 30

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति दूतवचः श्रुत्वा विस्मितस्त्रिदशाधिपः । उवाच तं स्मरन्निन्द्रो भयरोषसमन्वितः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | iti dūtavacaḥ śrutvā vismitastridaśādhipaḥ | uvāca taṃ smarannindro bhayaroṣasamanvitaḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: Having thus heard the messenger’s words, the lord of the gods stood astonished. Remembering that message, Indra spoke—his mind seized by fear and anger together.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumara
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सनत् + कुमार)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-इत्यादि वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• दूत-वचः: the messenger's words
• दूत-वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दूतस्य वचः)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund)

• विस्मितः: astonished
• विस्मितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• त्रिदश-अधिपः: lord of the gods
• त्रिदश-अधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रिदशानाम् अधिपः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्मरन्: remembering
• स्मरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भय-रोष-समन्वितः: endowed with fear and anger
• भय-रोष-समन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + रोष (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः/समासार्थः (भयेन रोषेण च समन्वितः = endowed with fear and anger)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is a narrative transition (Sanatkumāra reporting Indra’s reaction), not a tīrtha-māhātmya locus.

Significance: Highlights the psychological bondage of even exalted beings (devas) under fear/anger—illustrating paśu-condition under pāśa (karma/māyā).

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Indra

FAQs

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

It highlights how even Indra, the king of the devas, becomes disturbed by fear and anger—showing that worldly authority does not remove inner bonds (pāśa). In Shaiva Siddhanta, true steadiness comes by taking refuge in Pati (Śiva), not by mere power.

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

Indra’s agitation contrasts with the calm gained through Saguna Shiva worship—approaching Śiva as the compassionate Lord who grants protection (abhaya) and purifies reactive emotions. Linga-worship symbolizes turning from external conflict to inner centering in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to pacify fear and anger, along with mindful application of bhasma (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of impermanence and surrender to Śiva’s grace.