Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

व्याघ्रादिभिर्महासत्त्वैर्निर्घुष्टं क्रूरतोज्झितम् । सर्वशोभान्वितं दिव्यं महाविस्मयकारकम्

Transliteration

vyāghrādibhirmahāsattvairnirghuṣṭaṃ krūratojjhitam | sarvaśobhānvitaṃ divyaṃ mahāvismayakārakam

Translation

Il retentissait des cris de puissants êtres tels que les tigres, et pourtant il était exempt de toute cruauté. Pourvu de toutes les splendeurs, il était divin, un séjour qui suscitait une grande merveille.

Word by Word

• व्याघ्र-आदिभिः: by tigers and others
• व्याघ्र-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’समासान्त—‘व्याघ्रादयः’ (etc. beginning with tigers)

• महासत्त्वैः: by great creatures
• महासत्त्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन; महत्+सत्त्व (great beings/creatures)

• निर्घुष्टम्: resounded
• निर्घुष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-घुष् (धातु) → निर्घुष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle): ‘resounded/echoed’

• क्रूरतः-उज्झितम्: free from cruelty
• क्रूरतः-उज्झितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय) + उद्-झा (धातु) → उज्झित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘क्रूरतः’ = अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘from cruelty/harshness’), ‘उज्झितम्’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (abandoned/left off)

• सर्व-शोभा-अन्वितम्: endowed with all beauty
• सर्व-शोभा-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘सर्वशोभाभिः अन्वितम्’ (endowed with all beauty)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन

• महा-विस्मय-कारकम्: causing great astonishment
• महा-विस्मय-कारकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc., 1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘महान् विस्मयः यस्य/येन’—causing great wonder

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse culminates the landscape description with a theological paradox: it echoes with powerful beasts yet is ‘devoid of cruelty’—a hallmark of a divinized realm under Śiva’s governance.

Significance: Suggests the transformation of instinctual ferocity into dharmic harmony in Śiva’s sphere—an allegory for the pacification of the paśu’s impulses by Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays a Shaiva sacred space where primal power (symbolized by tigers and great creatures) is present, yet purified of cruelty—indicating that proximity to Shiva refines the pashu-nature into auspiciousness and wonder.

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

The verse highlights the transforming sanctity of Shiva’s presence: even what is naturally fierce becomes non-harmful. In Saguna Shiva worship—especially before the Linga—devotees seek this same purification of instincts into devotion, peace, and divine awe.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Approach Shiva’s worship with ahimsa and inner purity: chant the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while visualizing the mind becoming “krūratā-ujjhitam” (free from harshness), and offer simple, sattvic worship (water, bilva) in a mood of reverent wonder.