Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon

Devanagari script

ततः प्रमत्तस्तु सुतान्प्रधानान्कुतर्कवादैरभिभूय सर्वान् । चचार दैत्यैस्सहितो महात्मा विनाशयन्वैदिकसर्वधर्मान्

Transliteration

tataḥ pramattastu sutānpradhānānkutarkavādairabhibhūya sarvān | cacāra daityaissahito mahātmā vināśayanvaidikasarvadharmān

Translation

Ensuite, égaré, il domina tous les fils les plus éminents par des raisonnements sophistiques. Accompagné des Daityas, ce puissant être erra çà et là, cherchant à anéantir tous les devoirs et disciplines sacrés fondés sur le Véda.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/काल (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/thereafter (sequence)

• प्रमत्तः: careless, intoxicated
• प्रमत्तः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/contrast particle

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्रधानान्: chief, foremost
• प्रधानान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• कुतर्कवादैः: by sophistical arguments
• कुतर्कवादैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुतर्क + वाद (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘कुतर्कस्य वादः’

• अभिभूय: having overcome
• अभिभूय: पूर्वकाल (Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (absolutive/gerund) irregular form; ‘having overpowered’

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• चचार: roamed, moved about
• चचार: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दैत्यैः: with demons
• दैत्यैः: सहकारक (Sahakāraka/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• सहितः: accompanied
• सहितः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सह (उपसर्ग) + इ (धातु) / सहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘accompanied’

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ‘महान् आत्मा’

• विनाशयन्: destroying
• विनाशयन्: क्रिया-विशेषण (Participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; contemporaneous action

• वैदिक: Vedic
• वैदिक: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; compound-member adjective

• सर्व: all
• सर्व: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; compound-member adjective

• धर्मान्: duties, laws
• धर्मान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Daityas

FAQs

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

The verse warns that delusion can masquerade as intellect: sophistry (kutarka) may overpower even leading followers and erode Vedic dharma. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it highlights pasha (bondage) as wrong knowledge that obstructs the soul’s return to Pati (Shiva).

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

When Vedic duties and right conduct are undermined, devotion loses its grounding. Linga-worship (Saguna Shiva) functions as a stabilizing discipline—restoring shraddha, purity, and right orientation toward Shiva—countering the chaos created by kutarka and asuric influence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to strengthen discernment through regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintain Shaiva purity disciplines such as bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and sincere daily worship, which steady the mind against misleading arguments.