Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

तस्य राज्येऽमरान्हित्वा नाभवन्दुःखिताः प्रजाः । सापत्न्यादुःखितास्ते हि परधर्मप्रवर्तिनः

Transliteration

tasya rājye'marānhitvā nābhavanduḥkhitāḥ prajāḥ | sāpatnyāduḥkhitāste hi paradharmapravartinaḥ

Translation

Sous son règne, après avoir écarté l’ingérence des dieux, les sujets ne tombèrent pas dans la détresse. Car ceux que tourmentaient rivalités et autres peines étaient, en vérité, des gens voués à des devoirs étrangers, égarés loin de leur propre voie du dharma.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी एकवचन; ‘of him’

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; locative

• अमरान्: the gods
• अमरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; object of ‘hitvā’

• हित्वा: having left
• हित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), ‘having abandoned/left’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अभवन्: were
• अभवन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘were/became’

• दुःखिताः: distressed
• दुःखिताः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक; दुःख + इत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; predicate adjective to ‘prajāḥ’

• प्रजाः: the subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; subject

• सापत्न्यादुःखिताः: afflicted by co-wife rivalry
• सापत्न्यादुःखिताः: Pratipādya/Viśeṣaṇa (प्रतिपाद्य/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सापत्न्य + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सापत्न्यात् दुःखिताः / सापत्न्येन दुःखिताः—sense: afflicted by rivalry); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; predicate/attribute

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; subject (resumptive)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (for/indeed)

• परधर्मप्रवर्तिनः: engaged in others’ duties (improper conduct)
• परधर्मप्रवर्तिनः: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परधर्म + प्रवर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परस्य धर्मः) + उपपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रवर्तिन् = engaged in); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; predicate adjective

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse links inner suffering to para-dharma—living by an alien code rather than one’s own rightful path—implying that peace in society and mind arises from alignment with dharma under the higher order upheld by Shiva.

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

By warning against para-dharma, it indirectly supports steadiness in one’s ordained Shaiva observances—devotion to Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship as one’s svadharma—rather than chasing conflicting paths that breed agitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a dharmic daily rule—optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa—so the mind does not fall into rivalry, jealousy, and restless comparison.