Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

काम-शक्र-संवादः / Dialogue of Kāma and Śakra

Indra

Devanagari script

क्षणेन भ्रंशयिष्यामि कटाक्षेण वरस्त्रियाः । देवर्षिदानवादींश्च नराणां गणना न मे

Transliteration

kṣaṇena bhraṃśayiṣyāmi kaṭākṣeṇa varastriyāḥ | devarṣidānavādīṃśca narāṇāṃ gaṇanā na me

Translation

一瞬にして、ただ横目の一瞥だけで、その高貴なる女人を堕とそう。神々・聖仙・ダーナヴァに至るまで――人間など我にとって数えるにも値せぬ。

Word by Word

• क्षणेन: in a moment
• क्षणेन: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• भ्रंशयिष्यामि: I will cause to fall/ruin
• भ्रंशयिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रंश् (धातु) [णिच् causative: भ्रंशय-]
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• कटाक्षेण: with a sidelong glance
• कटाक्षेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कटाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• वर-स्त्रियाः: of the excellent woman
• वर-स्त्रियाः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); समासः: वराः स्त्रियः (श्रेष्ठा स्त्री) → वरस्त्री; here genitive singular

• देवर्षि-दानव-आदीन्: devarṣis, dānavas, and others
• देवर्षि-दानव-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः: देवर्षयः च दानवाः च (इतर-द्वन्द्व) + आदि (etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नराणाम्: of men
• नराणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गणना: counting/consideration
• गणना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• मे: for me/of me
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

A demon/hostile being (asura) boasting within the Parvati Khanda narrative (as recounted by Sūta to the sages).

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It depicts the intoxication of ego and power (a form of pāśa/bondage): the speaker boasts of harming a virtuous woman and dismisses beings as “countless” or “insignificant,” showing the delusion that precedes collapse when confronted by Śiva-Śakti and dharma.

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

The verse highlights the contrast between finite, pride-driven power and the supreme order upheld by Saguna Śiva (worshiped as the Liṅga): devotion and alignment with Śiva’s dharma protect the devotee, while arrogance invites downfall.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As an antidote to pride and harmful intent, practitioners are guided toward humility through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), wearing rudrākṣa with restraint, and applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of impermanence and surrender to Śiva.