Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य सिन्धुपुत्रस्य भार्गवः । स्मृत्वा शिवपदांभोजं प्रत्युवाच यथार्थवत्

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityākarṇya vacastasya sindhuputrasya bhārgavaḥ | smṛtvā śivapadāṃbhojaṃ pratyuvāca yathārthavat

Translation

Sanatkumāra dit : Ayant entendu les paroles du fils de Sindhu, Bhārgava, se souvenant des pieds de lotus du Seigneur Śiva, répondit d’une manière vraie et appropriée.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumara
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (speaker/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सनत् कुमारः), पुंलिङ्ग/Masculine, प्रथमा/Nominative (1st), एकवचन/Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person, एकवचन/Singular

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निदर्शन-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/Absolutive (gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), ‘having heard’

• वचः: words
• वचः: कर्म (object of आकर्ण्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/Neuter, द्वितीया/Accusative (2nd), एकवचन/Singular

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), षष्ठी/Genitive (6th), एकवचन/Singular, पुंलिङ्ग/Masculine

• सिन्धु-पुत्रस्य: of the son of Sindhu
• सिन्धु-पुत्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive; apposition to तस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सिन्धोः पुत्रः), पुंलिङ्ग/Masculine, षष्ठी/Genitive (6th), एकवचन/Singular

• भार्गवः: Bhargava (Śukra)
• भार्गवः: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/Masculine, प्रथमा/Nominative (1st), एकवचन/Singular

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/Absolutive (gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having remembered’

• शिव-पद-अम्भोजम्: Shiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पद-अम्भोजम्: कर्म (object of स्मृत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य पदम्) + तत्पुरुष (पद-अम्भोज = पदरूपम् अम्भोजम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/Neuter, द्वितीया/Accusative (2nd), एकवचन/Singular

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष/3rd person, एकवचन/Singular

• यथार्थवत्: truthfully / as it really was
• यथार्थवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथार्थवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रकारवाचक (manner)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Bhargava
• Sindhuputra

FAQs

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

It shows that right speech and right action arise from first taking refuge in Pati—remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet—so one responds from dharma and truth rather than ego or agitation.

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

Remembering “Śiva’s lotus-feet” is a form of saguna-bhakti (devotional contemplation of Shiva with attributes), akin to inward linga-worship where the devotee centers mind and speech on Shiva before engaging the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) before speaking—mentally bowing to Shiva, optionally with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” to align one’s words with satya (truth) and hita (benefit).