Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

दक्षस्य दुहितृविवाहवर्णनम् / The Marriages of Dakṣa’s Daughters

Genealogical Allocation

Devanagari script

केचिद्वदंति तां ज्येष्ठां मध्यमां चापरे शिवाम् । सर्वानन्तरजां केचित्कल्पभेदात्त्रयं च सत

Transliteration

kecidvadaṃti tāṃ jyeṣṭhāṃ madhyamāṃ cāpare śivām | sarvānantarajāṃ kecitkalpabhedāttrayaṃ ca sata

Translation

Certains nomment cette Déesse de bon augure l’Aînée ; d’autres appellent Śivā la Médiane. D’autres encore disent qu’elle est née après toutes, la dernière. Ainsi, selon les différences des kalpas (cycles cosmiques), les trois désignations sont tenues pour vraies.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cid (प्रातिपदिक/निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun: some)

• वदन्ति: say
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ताम्: her/that (one)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठाम्: eldest
• ज्येष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jyeṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण

• मध्यमाम्: middle
• मध्यमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhyamā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन

• शिवाम्: Śivā (the auspicious goddess)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• सर्वानन्तरजाम्: the one born after all (i.e., youngest/last-born)
• सर्वानन्तरजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvā-anantarajā (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वा + अनन्तरजा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; विशेषण

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim + cid (प्रातिपदिक/निपात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम

• कल्पभेदात्: due to difference of kalpas
• कल्पभेदात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa-bheda (प्रातिपदिक; कल्प + भेद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative); एकवचन

• त्रयम्: threefold/three
• त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• सत: existing/true (reading uncertain)
• सत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन; विशेषण (textually uncertain form; likely “sat” = existing/true)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-bheda (variation across cosmic cycles)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It teaches that scriptural descriptions can differ across kalpas, yet remain spiritually valid—pointing to the timeless, transcendent nature of Śiva and Śivā beyond a single historical sequence.

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

By affirming multiple true descriptions across cosmic cycles, it supports Saguna worship in varied forms and narratives—devotees may worship Śiva through the Liṅga and honor Śivā/Devī without conflict, as both reveal the same supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the unity of Śiva and Śivā across time while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), maintaining steady bhakti regardless of differing narrative details.