Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship

Devanagari script

उपजीवनहेतोश्च शिववेषधरा हि ये । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन

Transliteration

upajīvanahetośca śivaveṣadharā hi ye | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana

Translation

Ceux qui portent les vêtements et les marques extérieures de Shiva simplement comme moyen de subsistance doivent tous être évités ; ils ne doivent jamais être admis en sa compagnie.

Word by Word

• उपजीवन-हेतोः: for livelihood’s sake
• उपजीवन-हेतोः: हेतु/प्रयोजन (purpose relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपजीवन (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘for the sake of livelihood’ (genitive of purpose)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिव-वेष-धराः: wearers of Śiva’s dress/guise
• शिव-वेष-धराः: कर्ता (apposition to ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘those who wear Śiva’s guise’

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• परिहर्तव्याः: to be avoided
• परिहर्तव्याः: विधेय-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √परि-हृ (धातु) + तव्यत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भाव्य (gerundive): to be avoided

• न: not
• न: निषेध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• आनेतव्याः: to be brought (in)
• आनेतव्याः: विधेय-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √आ-नी (धातु) + तव्यत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भाव्य (gerundive): to be brought

• कदाचन: ever
• कदाचन: कालाधिकरण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva’s standards of conduct to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that external Shaiva symbols (dress, marks) are not proof of realization; devotion must be inward—free from deceit, greed, and livelihood-driven impersonation—so a seeker preserves purity of saṅga (company).

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

Liṅga/Saguṇa worship is meant to transform the heart through śraddhā and discipline; this verse says that merely adopting Shaiva appearance without inner bhakti is contrary to the purpose of worship and should not be encouraged through association.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is discernment and inner practice: keep company with sincere devotees, maintain japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and use bhasma/rudrākṣa as supports for purity—not as tools for earning or display.