Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode
Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall
शंकर उवाच । मा रोदीस्तुलसि त्वं हि भुंक्ते कर्मफलं जनः । सुखदुःखदो न कोप्यस्ति संसारे कर्मसागरे
śaṃkara uvāca | mā rodīstulasi tvaṃ hi bhuṃkte karmaphalaṃ janaḥ | sukhaduḥkhado na kopyasti saṃsāre karmasāgare
Śaṅkara dit : «Ne pleure pas, ô Tulasī. En vérité, chacun doit goûter le fruit de ses propres actes. Dans cet océan du karma qu’est le monde, nul autre n’est un dispensateur indépendant de joie ou de peine.»
Lord Shiva (Shankara)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches karmic accountability: joy and sorrow arise from one’s own past actions, so grief should transform into discernment (viveka) and a turn toward liberation rather than blame.
By removing the notion of an external “punisher” or “rewarder,” the verse directs the devotee to worship Saguna Shiva (Linga) as the compassionate Lord who helps burn karmic bonds through grace, devotion, and right understanding—not as a capricious dispenser of worldly ups and downs.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a steady, non-complaining mind, along with simple Linga-pūjā and the cultivation of equanimity while accepting karma-phala.