Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

देव्याः क्रोधः शक्तिनिर्माणं च

Devī’s Wrath and the Manifestation of the Śaktis

Devanagari script

शिवोपि दुःखमापन्नो लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रितः । मोहयन्सकलांस्तत्र नानालीलाविशारदः

Transliteration

śivopi duḥkhamāpanno laukikīṃ gatimāśritaḥ | mohayansakalāṃstatra nānālīlāviśāradaḥ

Translation

Même le Seigneur Śiva, comme saisi de tristesse, adopta là une conduite d’apparence mondaine; et, parfaitement versé dans de nombreuses līlās divines, il troubla l’esprit de tous ceux qui étaient présents.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक निपात (also/even)

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having fallen into
• आपन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आपद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘fallen into/attained’

• लौकिकीम्: worldly
• लौकिकीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गतिम्: state/condition, course
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: having resorted to
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘having resorted to’

• मोहयन्: deluding
• मोहयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + णिच् + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; ‘causing delusion’

• सकलान्: all
• सकलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (there)

• नाना-लीला-विशारदः: skilled in many kinds of play
• नाना-लीला-विशारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नानाविधासु लीलासु विशारदः’ (skilled in various sports)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s apparent “sorrow” and worldly behavior are part of His līlā—an intentional veil of māyā that guides beings through experience toward discernment and, ultimately, liberation under the Lord’s grace.

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

By showing Śiva adopting a worldly mode, the verse highlights Saguna Śiva—God with attributes—who becomes accessible to devotees through forms like the Liṅga, where the same transcendent Lord compassionately meets devotees within the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to see through delusion (moha) and remain anchored in Śiva while engaging in worldly duties.