Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 35

Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)

Devanagari script

गौतम उवाच । यूयं सर्वे दुरात्मानो दुःखदा मे विशेषतः । शिवभक्तस्य सततं स्युर्वेदविमुखास्सदा

Transliteration

gautama uvāca | yūyaṃ sarve durātmāno duḥkhadā me viśeṣataḥ | śivabhaktasya satataṃ syurvedavimukhāssadā

Translation

ગૌતમ બોલ્યા—તમે બધા દુષ્ટાત્મા છો અને ખાસ કરીને મને દુઃખ આપનાર છો. શિવભક્ત પ્રત્યે તમે સદાય વેદથી વિમુખ રહો છો.

Word by Word

• गौतमः: Gautama
• गौतमः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन; pronoun ‘you (pl.)’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; adjective qualifying ‘you’

• दुरात्मानः: wicked persons
• दुरात्मानः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: दुष्टः आत्मा यस्य (wicked-souled)

• दुःखदाः: sorrow-giving
• दुःखदाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःखद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: दुःखं ददाति इति (giver of sorrow)

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन (enclitic); here चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान) ‘to me’

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb) ‘especially’

• शिवभक्तस्य: of a devotee of Śiva
• शिवभक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य भक्तः

• सततम्: always
• सततम्: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb) ‘always/constantly’

• स्युः: may be/are (potentially)
• स्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्-सदृश प्रयोग), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘may be/should be’

• वेदविमुखाः: turned away from the Veda
• वेदविमुखाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: वेदात् विमुखः (turned away from the Veda)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time) ‘always’

Speaker

Gautama

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gautama
• Veda

FAQs

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

The verse frames a key Shaiva ethical teaching: true Shiva-bhakti is protective and purifying, while those who are hostile to a Shiva devotee are portrayed as inwardly misaligned with dharma (Vedic right conduct), creating suffering through their negativity.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship in the Purana is not mere ritualism; it demands devotion joined with purity of conduct. The verse implies that antagonism toward Shiva-bhaktas and contempt for dharma obstructs the grace that arises from Linga worship and pilgrimage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to steady oneself in Shiva-bhakti with dharmic discipline—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintaining sattvic conduct—while avoiding harmful company and actions that turn one away from sacred teaching.