Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

गिरिजातपः-परीक्षा तथा सप्तर्षि-आह्वानम्

Girijā’s Austerity-Test and the Summoning of the Seven Sages

Devanagari script

नारदः कूटवादी च परचित्तप्रमंथकः । तस्य वार्त्ताश्रवणतो हानिर्भवति सर्वथा

Transliteration

nāradaḥ kūṭavādī ca paracittapramaṃthakaḥ | tasya vārttāśravaṇato hānirbhavati sarvathā

Translation

ナーラダは曲がった言葉を弄し、他人の心をかき乱す者である。彼の話をただ聞くだけで、あらゆる形の害が必ず生じる。

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता; topic/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• कूट-वादी: speaking deceitfully
• कूट-वादी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण; qualifier of Nārada)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूट (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (कूटं वदति/कूटवादः); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• पर-चित्त-प्रमन्थकः: one who agitates others’ minds
• पर-चित्त-प्रमन्थकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + प्र-मन्थक (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्थ)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (परस्य चित्तस्य प्रमन्थकः = agitator of others' minds); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• वार्त्ता-श्रवणतः: from hearing the report (about him)
• वार्त्ता-श्रवणतः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान; cause/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्त्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वार्त्तायाः श्रवणम्); तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; पञ्चमी-अर्थ (ablatival): 'from hearing news'

• हानिः: loss/harm
• हानिः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भवति: arises/occurs
• भवति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वथा: entirely
• सर्वथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in every way/entirely)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It warns that spiritual decline can begin simply through śravaṇa—listening to disruptive, deceitful talk—which agitates the mind and strengthens bondage (pāśa). Shaiva practice emphasizes guarding speech and association so devotion to Śiva remains steady.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Śiva-bhakti require inner purity, steadiness, and reverent attention. Hearing mind-stirring talk scatters awareness and weakens the devotional focus needed for mantra, pūjā, and dhyāna directed to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Choose satsanga and replace harmful listening with auspicious śravaṇa—reciting or hearing the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Śiva-kathā. As a practical takeaway, keep japa during idle talk times to prevent mental agitation.