Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

भृग्वाद्यैर्दुष्टचित्तैश्च मूढैस्स उपहासितः । महा प्रभुर्महेशानो ब्राह्मणत्वादहंमते

Transliteration

bhṛgvādyairduṣṭacittaiśca mūḍhaissa upahāsitaḥ | mahā prabhurmaheśāno brāhmaṇatvādahaṃmate

Translation

Raillé par les sots au cœur mauvais, à commencer par Bhṛgu, le Grand Seigneur Maheśāna fut traité avec mépris, car, dans leur orgueil, ils estimaient qu’il avait pris l’état d’un brāhmaṇa.

Word by Word

• भृग्वाद्यैः: by Bhṛgu and others
• भृग्वाद्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘by Bhṛgu and others’

• दुष्टचित्तैः: by wicked-minded (ones)
• दुष्टचित्तैः: करण (Instrument—agentive group)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to implied agents

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• मूढैः: by deluded (ones)
• मूढैः: करण (Instrument—agentive group)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to implied agents

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग

• उपहासितः: mocked/derided
• उपहासितः: क्रिया (Predicative—passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle/PPP), प्रथमा एकवचन पुल्लिङ्ग; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘was mocked’

• महा: great
• महा: विशेषण-पूर्वपद (Pre-modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: महा (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् पूर्वपद)
• Form: पूर्वपद-निपात (indeclinable pre-member used in compounds)

• प्रभुः: the Lord/master
• प्रभुः: कर्ता (Karta—apposition to ‘सः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• महेशानः: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानः: कर्ता (Karta—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक: महा+ईशान)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; apposition to ‘प्रभुः’

• ब्राह्मणत्वात्: because of (their) brahminhood/status
• ब्राह्मणत्वात्: अपादान (Apādāna—cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; हेतौ/कारणे (because of)

• अहंमते: in egoistic conceit
• अहंमते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative—state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अहं + मत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; ‘in/through egoistic opinion’ (locative of state)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhṛgu

FAQs

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

It exposes how ahaṅkāra (ego) and moha (delusion) make people ridicule even Maheśvara when He appears in a simple, accessible form, teaching that true spiritual vision recognizes Pati (Śiva) beyond outer status.

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

Saguna manifestations of Śiva often appear ordinary to test devotion; the verse warns that judging by externals leads to aparādha, while Linga-worship trains the mind to honor Śiva as the Supreme regardless of form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humility with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and cultivate reverence (śraddhā) toward Śiva in all forms; avoid contempt and maintain inner purity as a daily discipline.