Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

दधीचाश्रमगमनम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and Dadhīca’s Fearlessness

Kṣu’s Request

Devanagari script

दधीच उवाच । रुद्रकोपाग्निना देवास्सदेवेंद्रा मुनीश्वराः । ध्वस्ता भवंतु देवेन विष्णुना च समं गणैः

Transliteration

dadhīca uvāca | rudrakopāgninā devāssadeveṃdrā munīśvarāḥ | dhvastā bhavaṃtu devena viṣṇunā ca samaṃ gaṇaiḥ

Translation

Dadhīca dijo: «Que los dioses, junto con Indra y los grandes sabios, sean consumidos por el fuego nacido de la ira de Rudra; y que también Viṣṇu, con sus huestes asistentes, sea destruido por completo».

Word by Word

• दधीचः: Dadhīca
• दधीचः: Karta (कर्ता; speaker/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st); एकवचन

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

• रुद्र-कोप-अग्निना: by the fire of Rudra's wrath
• रुद्र-कोप-अग्निना: Karana (करण; instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd); एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of imperative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st); बहुवचन

• स-देव-इन्द्राः: together with (their) Indras
• स-देव-इन्द्राः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to देवाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st); बहुवचन; ‘सहित’ अर्थे स- (with)

• मुनि-ईश्वराः: lords among sages
• मुनि-ईश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st); बहुवचन

• ध्वस्ताः: destroyed
• ध्वस्ताः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate complement of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वंस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (Nominative/1st); बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicative)

• भवन्तु: let them be
• भवन्तु: Kriya (क्रिया; injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवेन: by the god
• देवेन: Karana (करण; agent/instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd); एकवचन

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: Karana (करण; agent/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd); एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• समम्: together
• समम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘सह/एकत्र’

• गणैः: with (his) attendants
• गणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह; accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd); बहुवचन; सहार्थे (with)

Speaker

Sage Dadhichi

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: rudrakopāgninā devāssadeveṃdrā munīśvarāḥ | dhvastā bhavaṃtu devena viṣṇunā ca samaṃ gaṇaiḥ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Localized pralaya-imagery via 'rudra-kopa-agni' (Rudra’s wrath-fire)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Indra
• Vishnu
• Devas
• Munis
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Rudra’s power as the cosmic governor who can withdraw divine functions when dharma is violated; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this ‘wrath’ signifies the Lord’s corrective sovereignty (nigraha) that removes obstruction and pride, even among exalted beings.

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

Rudra’s wrath here underscores Saguna Shiva as the active Lord who protects cosmic order; Linga-worship is presented in the Shiva Purana as aligning oneself with Shiva’s authority and grace, avoiding ego-driven opposition to his will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is humility and propitiation of Rudra through Shaiva disciplines—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing Rudraksha with purity of conduct, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and surrender to Shiva.