Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

स्त्रीकृते व्याकुलं विष्णो मामकार्षीर्विमोहकः । अन्वकार्षीस्स्वरूपेण येन कापट्यकार्यकृत्

Transliteration

strīkṛte vyākulaṃ viṣṇo māmakārṣīrvimohakaḥ | anvakārṣīssvarūpeṇa yena kāpaṭyakāryakṛt

Translation

Ô Viṣṇu, ce séducteur m’a troublé à cause d’une femme ; et, prenant sa propre forme, il m’a poursuivi—lui, l’auteur d’actes trompeurs.

Word by Word

• strī-kṛte: when (he was) made into a woman / in the female-made state
• strī-kṛte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृ धातु + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/locative sense: 'in the state of being made a woman'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• vyākulam: agitated, distressed
• vyākulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying mām)

• viṣṇo: O Viṣṇu
• viṣṇo: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• akārṣīḥ: you made/did
• akārṣīḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• vimohakaḥ: deluder, bewilderer
• vimohakaḥ: Sambodhana/Viśeṣaṇa (सम्बोधन/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + muh (धातु) + ṇvul? / moha (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (addressing viṣṇu: 'one who deludes')

• anvakārṣīḥ: you made (me) follow / you led on
• anvakārṣīḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• svarūpeṇa: by (your) own form
• svarūpeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('own form'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• yena: by which / whereby
• yena: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kāpaṭya-kārya-kṛt: doer of deceitful acts
• kāpaṭya-kārya-kṛt: Sambodhana/Viśeṣaṇa (सम्बोधन/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāpaṭya (प्रातिपदिक) + kārya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛt (कृ धातु + कृत्)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: 'deceitful-act-doer'); कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of viṣṇu)

Speaker

Brahma (narrating within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa creation dialogue)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how moha (bewilderment) and attachment can disturb even exalted beings; Shaiva Siddhanta frames liberation as Shiva’s grace removing delusion so the soul turns from agitation toward steadfast devotion and discernment.

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

In the creation narratives of the Rudra Saṃhitā, divine bewilderment underscores the need for a stable refuge—Saguna Shiva worship (often centered on the Liṅga) as the accessible form through which Shiva’s grace steadies the mind and reveals truth beyond appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to pacify vyākulatā (agitation), along with simple Liṅga-upāsanā; if following Shiva Purana’s ritual ethos, add vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness.