Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings

Devanagari script

अथ ते भर्तृसंदेशमादाय शिरसाऽसुराः । देवप्रजानां कदनं विदधुः कदनप्रियाः

Transliteration

atha te bhartṛsaṃdeśamādāya śirasā'surāḥ | devaprajānāṃ kadanaṃ vidadhuḥ kadanapriyāḥ

Translation

Alors ces asuras, recevant l'ordre de leur seigneur, commencèrent à semer la destruction parmi les armées et les sujets des devas, étant toujours amateurs de carnage.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse connector/प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक/अनन्तरार्थक (indeclinable; then/thereupon)

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (pronoun; masculine nominative plural)

• भर्तृ-संदेशम्: the lord’s message
• भर्तृ-संदेशम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + संदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (genitive tatpurusha; masculine accusative singular)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘आदाय’ = having taken

• शिरसा: with (their) head; on the head
• शिरसा: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (neuter instrumental singular)

• असुराः: the demons
• असुराः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (masculine nominative plural)

• देव-प्रजानाम्: of the divine subjects/people
• देव-प्रजानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम् (genitive tatpurusha; feminine genitive plural)

• कदनम्: slaughter, devastation
• कदनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (neuter accusative singular)

• विदधुः: they wrought/caused
• विदधुः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect); प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (Perfect; 3rd person plural; parasmaipada)

• कदन-प्रियाः: fond of slaughter
• कदन-प्रियाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थे); पुल्लिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (tatpurusha; masculine nominative plural)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse portrays adharma as a force that spreads by obedience to egoic, violent command—symbolizing how the bound soul (paśu) becomes further entangled in pāśa (bondage) through cruelty and harm, which Shaiva Siddhānta treats as a deepening of karmic impurity (mala).

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

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa setting, chaos among devas and beings highlights the need for refuge in Saguna Śiva—the compassionate Lord who restores dharma. Linga-worship signifies turning from destructive impulses to the stabilizing presence of Pati (Śiva), the supreme protector and regulator.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Śiva’s protection through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivating ahiṃsā; in traditional practice, this is supported by wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders to restrain harmful tendencies.