Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse

Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

पपात भूमौ निहतो तेन वज्रेण भार्गवः । शुक्रं सस्मार क्षुवकृद्भार्गवस्य कुलंधरः

Transliteration

papāta bhūmau nihato tena vajreṇa bhārgavaḥ | śukraṃ sasmāra kṣuvakṛdbhārgavasya kulaṃdharaḥ

Translation

Abattu par ce vajra, le Bhārgava tomba sur la terre. Alors Kulaṃdhara—qui porta la ruine sur la lignée des Bhārgava—se souvint de Śukra et l’invoqua.

Word by Word

• पपात: fell
• पपात: क्रिया (Kriyā/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• निहतः: slain / struck down
• निहतः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तेन: by that
• तेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• वज्रेण: with the thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भार्गवः: Bhārgava (Śukra)
• भार्गवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शुक्रम्: Śukra
• शुक्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सस्मार: remembered / called to mind
• सस्मार: क्रिया (Kriyā/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• क्षुवकृत्: the doer (connected with) Kṣuva
• क्षुवकृत्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुव + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: क्षुवस्य कृत् (doer/agent of Kṣuva’s act; i.e., one who acted against/for Kṣuva)

• भार्गवस्य: of Bhārgava
• भार्गवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• कुलंधरः: Kulaṃdhara
• कुलंधरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलंधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shukra
• Bhargava
• Kulandhara

FAQs

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

It highlights the collapse of mere force and lineage-pride when confronted by higher divine ordinance; in a Shaiva lens, true refuge is not in weapons or clan power but in turning the mind toward the supreme Lord (Pati) and right guidance.

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

The verse contrasts dependence on external powers (vajra, alliances, lineage) with the inner act of remembrance and surrender; Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana similarly trains the devotee to take refuge in Saguna Shiva through steady smaraṇa (remembrance) and upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is smaraṇa (sacred remembrance): repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a focused mind, ideally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, to cultivate reliance on Shiva rather than transient supports.