Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

विद्यादिभिर्गुणैः षड्भिरसदन्यैस्सतां स्मृतौ । हतायां भूयसां धाम न पश्यंति खलाः प्रिये

Transliteration

vidyādibhirguṇaiḥ ṣaḍbhirasadanyaissatāṃ smṛtau | hatāyāṃ bhūyasāṃ dhāma na paśyaṃti khalāḥ priye

Translation

Bien-aimée, lorsque la mémoire des vertueux est anéantie par six qualités commençant par le simple savoir—des qualités qui ne sont pas vraiment nobles—alors les méchants ne perçoivent plus la demeure suprême recherchée par les grands.

Word by Word

• विद्यादिभिः: by learning and the like
• विद्यादिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + आदि (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘विद्यादयः’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे न, किन्तु ‘विद्यादि’ इति समाहार-तत्पुरुषः (etc.); instrumental ‘by/with learning etc.’

• गुणैः: by virtues/qualities
• गुणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• षड्भिः: by six
• षड्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम् (गुणैः)

• असदन्यैः: not other than ignoble/unreal (i.e., base)
• असदन्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् + अन्य (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः ‘असद्-अन्य’ = not other than the unreal/ignoble; विशेषणम् (गुणैः)

• सताम्: of the good people
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘of the good/virtuous’

• स्मृतौ: in recollection/tradition
• स्मृतौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; ‘in memory/according to tradition’

• हतायाम्: when (it) is destroyed
• हतायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) + हत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) ‘when (it is) destroyed’ (refers to स्मृतौ/स्मृतिः implied)

• भूयसाम्: of greater (things)
• भूयसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; comparative ‘of greater (things)’

• धाम: abode, splendor, state
• धाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः

• पश्यन्ति: see
• पश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• खलाः: wicked people
• खलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• प्रिये: O dear (one)
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (vocative), एकवचनम्; संबोधनम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati (Parvati)

FAQs

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

It warns that mere external attainments like learning can become “false virtues” when they destroy the living remembrance of the truly good; without purity and devotion, the mind cannot recognize Shiva’s higher state (the supreme dhāma) sought by realized souls.

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

Linga-worship is meant to transform pride into humility and devotion; if one clings to status or scholarship without inner surrender, the vision of Saguna Shiva in the Linga—and the path it opens toward the Supreme—remains unseen to the spiritually dull.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate daily Shiva-smaraṇa through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with reverence, supported by simple disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, so remembrance is strengthened rather than eclipsed by ego.