Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43

जलंधरयुद्धे मायाप्रयोगः — Jalandhara’s Māyā in the Battle with Śiva

Devanagari script

दुर्मदेनाविनीतेन दोर्भ्यामास्फोट्य दोर्बलात् । तिरस्कृतो महादेवो वचनैः कटुकाक्षरैः

Transliteration

durmadenāvinītena dorbhyāmāsphoṭya dorbalāt | tiraskṛto mahādevo vacanaiḥ kaṭukākṣaraiḥ

Translation

邪なる驕りに目を覆われ、謙虚さを欠いた彼は、誇示するように自らの両腕を打ち鳴らし、辛辣で苦い言葉をもってマハーデーヴァを侮辱した。

Word by Word

• durmadena: by arrogance/evil intoxication
• durmadena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durmada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘दुर् मदः’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• avinītena: by lack of discipline/impudence
• avinītena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + vinīta (प्रातिपदिक; √nī क्त)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकारान्त-निषेध; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (durmadena)

• dorbhyām: with (his) two arms
• dorbhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dor (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• āsphoṭya: having clapped/snapped
• āsphoṭya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-sphuṭ/ sphoṭ (धा॒तु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘आ-’ उपसर्ग

• dorbalāt: from the strength of (his) arms
• dorbalāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dorbala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘दोः बलम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• tiraskṛtaḥ: was insulted/disrespected
• tiraskṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tiras + kṛ (धा॒तु) + kta
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle—क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (mahādevaḥ)

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva
• mahādevaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vacanaiḥ: by words
• vacanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• kaṭukākṣaraiḥ: with harsh syllables/words
• kaṭukākṣaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṭuka + akṣara (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘कटुकानि अक्षराणि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (vacanaiḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights durmada (egoic pride) and kaṭu-vacana (harsh speech) as forms of pasha—bondage that veils devotion; disrespect toward Mahādeva signifies the soul’s forgetfulness of Pati (the Lord) and blocks grace.

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

Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship is grounded in reverence and śraddhā; this verse shows the opposite attitude—contempt and arrogance—which negates the inner posture required for fruitful pūjā and for receiving Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humility through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate disciplined speech (mauna/saṃyama); offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and respectful namaskāra can be taken as corrective devotional acts.