Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

दुःखितस्य दया कार्या कृपणस्य विशेषतः । दीनस्य भक्तियुक्तस्य भवता नित्यमेव हि

Transliteration

duḥkhitasya dayā kāryā kṛpaṇasya viśeṣataḥ | dīnasya bhaktiyuktasya bhavatā nityameva hi

Translation

悲しみに沈む者には常に慈悲を示せ—とりわけ無力な者、貧しき者に。まことに、バクティに満ちた謙虚な帰依者には、汝が絶えず憐れみを施すべきである。

Word by Word

• दुःखितस्य: of the afflicted/sorrowful person
• दुःखितस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःखित (कृदन्त; दुःख्/दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + इत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध (of the afflicted)

• दया: compassion
• दया: कर्ता (प्रथमा/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate noun)

• कार्या: should be done (is to be shown)
• कार्या: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त; तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; कर्तव्यता (to be done/should be done)

• कृपणस्य: of the wretched/poor
• कृपणस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the poor/wretched)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय; विशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विशेषण-अव्यय (adverb of manner: especially)

• दीनस्य: of the humble/helpless
• दीनस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of the humble/helpless)

• भक्तियुक्तस्य: of one endowed with devotion
• भक्तियुक्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भक्त्या युक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying the person)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: कर्ता (तृतीया-कर्तृ/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; करण/कर्तृ-निर्देश (by you)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषणवत् अव्यय (adverbial accusative: always)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: निपात (Emphatic particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निपात (causal/emphatic particle: for/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya; the verse functions as a dharmic injunction within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narration).

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It teaches that daya (compassion) is a core Shaiva virtue: by protecting and helping the suffering—especially humble devotees—one purifies the heart, strengthens bhakti, and becomes fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha), which leads toward liberation.

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

Linga-worship is not only ritual; it must be supported by conduct aligned with Shiva’s qualities. Showing compassion to the distressed and honoring bhakti in others is treated as living worship (sevā) of Saguna Shiva, complementing external pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice compassionate giving and service (dāna–sevā) as part of Shiva-vrata: after japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) or Linga-pūjā, offer food, aid, or protection to the poor and afflicted—especially devotees—while maintaining a bhakti-centered intention.