Shloka 162

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

रुद्राय मूर्धाननिकृन्तनाय ममादिदेवस्य च यज्ञमूर्तेः विध्वान्तभङ्गं मम कर्तुमीश दृष्ट्वैव भूमौ करजाग्रकोट्या

Transliteration

rudrāya mūrdhānanikṛntanāya mamādidevasya ca yajñamūrteḥ vidhvāntabhaṅgaṃ mama kartumīśa dṛṣṭvaiva bhūmau karajāgrakoṭyā

Translation

ഹേ രുദ്രാ, ശിരഛേദകനേ! ഹേ ഈശാ! എന്നെ—ആദിദേവനെയും യജ്ഞമൂർത്തിയെയും—കണ്ട്, നിന്റെ ജ്വലിതാക്രമണം തകർക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു, ഞാൻ നഖാഗ്രംകൊണ്ട് ഭൂമിയെ അടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• रुद्राय: to Rudra

• मूर्धान-निकृन्तनाय: to the head-cutter/decapitator

• मम: of me/me

• आदिदेवस्य: of the primordial god

• च: and

• यज्ञ-मूर्तेः: of the one whose form is the sacrifice (embodiment of yajña)

• विध्वान्त-भङ्गम्: the breaking/shattering of the violent assault/overwhelming devastation

• मम: by me/for me

• कर्तुम्: to do

• ईश: O Lord (Īśa)

• दृष्ट्वा एव: having seen indeed/just upon seeing

• भूमौ: on the earth

• करज-अग्र-कोट्या: with the tip-edge of the fingernail.

Speaker

Brahma (within Suta’s narration to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Brahma
• Yajna (personified sacrifice)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It contrasts outer yajña (ritual power) with Rudra’s supreme lordship (Pati). Linga worship emphasizes surrender and inner consecration, showing that ritual without recognition of Shiva’s sovereignty collapses.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva appears as Īśa and Rudra—sovereign and transformative—who can “cut the head,” meaning he dissolves ego and ritual pride. This aligns with Shaiva Siddhanta: Pati alone can break pasha (bondage) and humble even cosmic authorities.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly critiques mere external ritual and points toward inner discipline: offering ego and agency into Shiva (antar-yajña). This resonates with Pashupata orientation—purification through surrender to Rudra rather than reliance on ritual force.