Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42
वृन्दायाः दुष्स्वप्न-दर्शनं तथा पातिव्रत्य-भङ्गोपक्रमः / Vṛndā’s Ominous Dreams and the Prelude to the Breach of Chastity
सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा क्रोधमापन्ना दर्शयंती स्वतेजसम् । शशाप केशवं व्यास पातिव्रत्यरता च सा
sanatkumāra uvāca | ityuktvā krodhamāpannā darśayaṃtī svatejasam | śaśāpa keśavaṃ vyāsa pātivratyaratā ca sā
Sanatkumāra dit : Ayant ainsi parlé, elle s’enflamma de colère et, révélant l’éclat de sa propre puissance spirituelle, ô Vyāsa, cette épouse chaste, vouée au vœu de pātivratā, lança une malédiction contre Keśava (Viṣṇu).
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights that dharma lived with inner purity—especially steadfast vow (vrata) and tapas—manifests as tejas (spiritual potency). In Shaiva understanding, such tejas operates within Shiva’s cosmic order, showing that moral-spiritual force can shape events even among the gods.
Though the verse narrates a curse upon Viṣṇu, the underlying Shaiva frame is that all powers (tejas, boons, curses) function under the sovereignty of Pati (Shiva) as the supreme regulator. It reinforces devotion to Saguna Shiva as the Lord who upholds dharma and governs the fruits of actions.
The practical takeaway is cultivation of vrata and self-discipline: keep a purity-vow, steady japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) to strengthen sattva and inner tejas, avoiding anger’s downfall while maintaining dharmic firmness.