Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55
कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्
Search for Kārttikeya and the Nandī Dialogue
दीप्तवांस्त्वं च विश्वेषु नासां गेहेषु शोभसे । यथा पतन्महाकूपे द्विजराजो न राजत
dīptavāṃstvaṃ ca viśveṣu nāsāṃ geheṣu śobhase | yathā patanmahākūpe dvijarājo na rājata
たとえ汝が神々の中で輝くとしても、彼らの家々では光を放たぬ。大いなる深井戸に落ちたなら、鳥の王ももはや栄光を現さぬがごとし。
Lord Shiva (instructing with a moral simile within the Kumārakhaṇḍa narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
The verse teaches that innate greatness (spiritual or divine radiance) can appear diminished when placed in an unworthy setting—hinting that one must seek right company and right dwelling in dharma to preserve inner luminosity on the path toward Shiva.
Saguna Shiva worship emphasizes purity of place, conduct, and association; this simile supports the Purana’s theme that devotion and divine qualities flourish when one lives in alignment with Shiva’s dharma, rather than being ‘confined’ by degrading environments.
Choose a clean, sattvic place for japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), apply Tripuṇḍra with reverence, and keep uplifting satsanga—so the mind does not become like a ‘great well’ that hides one’s spiritual brilliance.