Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

परालयं गतोपींद्रो लघुर्भवति तद्विधः । का कथा च परेषां वै रीढा यात्रा हि तद्विधा

Transliteration

parālayaṃ gatopīṃdro laghurbhavati tadvidhaḥ | kā kathā ca pareṣāṃ vai rīḍhā yātrā hi tadvidhā

Translation

Même Indra, après être allé au lieu du pralaya (dissolution), devient insignifiant en cet état. Que dire alors des autres êtres ? En vérité, leur voie et leur errance sont de même nature : incertaines et toujours soumises à la dissolution.

Word by Word

• para-ālayam: to another’s abode
• para-ālayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘other’s abode/another place’

• gataḥ: having gone
• gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘having gone’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-निपात (particle: even/also)

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• laghuḥ: light/insignificant
• laghuḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (indraḥ)

• bhavati: becomes
• bhavati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• tad-vidhaḥ: such (of that sort)
• tad-vidhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘of that kind/such’

• kā: what? (what then)
• kā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रश्न-सर्वनाम

• kathā: talk/mention
• kathā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• pareṣām: of others
• pareṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• rīḍhā: ruined/spoiled (lit. gnawed away)
• rīḍhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rīḍhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (yātrā)

• yātrā: journey/undertaking
• yātrā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• hi: for/indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (causal/emphatic particle)

• tad-vidhā: such (of that sort)
• tad-vidhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (yātrā) ‘of that kind’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General cosmological reflection: even Indra is reduced to insignificance when confronted with pralaya; the verse universalizes impermanence to undercut pride—an implicit critique of Dakṣa’s and the devas’ self-importance.

Significance: Cultivates vairāgya: pilgrimage is meaningful when it turns the mind from transient status (even Indra’s) toward the imperishable Pati (Śiva).

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya

Characters & Entities

• Indra

FAQs

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

It teaches vairagya: even the highest worldly sovereignty (Indra-hood) becomes trivial at pralaya, so the seeker should turn to Shiva (Pati) for the imperishable state beyond change.

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

By highlighting the fragility of all created ranks, it directs devotion toward Shiva as the stable refuge; Linga worship symbolizes the eternal Pati who remains when all transient forms dissolve.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily remembrance of Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a spirit of detachment, reflecting that all status and possessions are temporary.