Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 23

Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वबाहुश्चैकपादस्सूर्य्ये दृष्टिं दधत्पुरा । संस्थितस्स बभूवाथ भीमो राक्षसपुत्रकः

Transliteration

ūrdhvabāhuścaikapādassūryye dṛṣṭiṃ dadhatpurā | saṃsthitassa babhūvātha bhīmo rākṣasaputrakaḥ

Translation

かつて、その恐るべき羅刹の子は、厳しい誓願の苦行に立ち、両腕を高く掲げ、片足で立って、スーリヤ（太陽神）に視線を凝らしていた。

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्व-बाहुः: with arms raised
• ऊर्ध्व-बाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (ऊर्ध्वः बाहुः यस्य/ऊर्ध्वबाहुः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एक-पादः: standing on one foot
• एक-पादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (एकः पादः यस्य)

• सूर्ये: at/on the sun (towards the sun)
• सूर्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• दृष्टिम्: gaze/vision
• दृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• दधत्: fixing (his gaze)
• दधत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘bearing/placing’

• पुरा: formerly/earlier
• पुरा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘formerly/earlier’

• संस्थितः: stood/was stationed
• संस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active/PPP in sense of ‘stood’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle)

• भीमः: Bhīma (the terrible one)
• भीमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• राक्षस-पुत्रकः: a demon’s son
• राक्षस-पुत्रकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (राक्षसस्य पुत्रकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It depicts intense tapas (austerity) and ekāgratā (one-pointedness). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such discipline becomes spiritually fruitful only when oriented toward Pati (Lord Shiva) rather than mere power or pride.

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

The verse shows external austerity (posture, gaze, endurance), which in Shiva worship is ideally redirected into devotion to Saguna Shiva—often through Linga-upāsanā—so that tapas matures into bhakti and grace rather than self-will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady dhyāna with regulated posture and focused attention, supported by Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and, where appropriate, Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa to anchor the mind in Shiva-bhāva.