Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

चतुर्बिन्दुमितं रेतः पतितं यत्क्षितौ तव । तन्मितास्तोयदा व्योम्नि भवेयुः प्रलयंकराः

Transliteration

caturbindumitaṃ retaḥ patitaṃ yatkṣitau tava | tanmitāstoyadā vyomni bhaveyuḥ pralayaṃkarāḥ

Translation

Ta semence, mesurée en quatre gouttes, est tombée sur la terre. Des nuages dans le ciel de cette même mesure s'élèveraient, provoquant la dissolution, comme si les forces de pralaya avaient été mises en mouvement.

Word by Word

• चतुः-बिन्दु-मितम्: measured as four drops
• चतुः-बिन्दु-मितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + bindu + mita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √mā)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (measure-determinative): चतुर्भिः बिन्दुभिः मितम् (measured by four drops); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त (PPP)

• रेतः: semen
• रेतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: retas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (form retas used)

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √pat)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• क्षितौ: on the earth/ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्-मिताः: measured by that (same measure)
• तत्-मिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + mita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √mā)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: तेन (रेतसा) मिताः (measured by that); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कृदन्त (PPP)

• तोयदाः: rain-clouds
• तोयदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toyada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• व्योम्नि: in the sky
• व्योम्नि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• भवेयुः: would become
• भवेयुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• प्रलयम्-कराः: causing destruction
• प्रलयम्-कराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pralaya + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: प्रलयं करोति इति (causing dissolution); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Satī (addressing Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-impulse (laya-pravṛtti) signaled by clouds arising from Śiva’s vīrya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse stresses Śiva’s boundless divine potency: even a minute measure of His energy is cosmic in scale, reminding devotees that Śiva as Pati governs creation and dissolution, and that worldly measures cannot contain the Supreme.

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

It supports the Shaiva understanding that Saguna manifestations (like the Liṅga) are approachable forms of an otherwise immeasurable reality—Śiva’s power is infinite, yet He becomes worshipable through sacred forms for the devotee’s grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is reverent contemplation of Śiva’s śakti while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), coupled with purity disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady bhakti, to align the mind with Śiva beyond fear of cosmic change.