Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra

Devanagari script

कृष्णो भूत्वान्यनार्यश्च दूषिताः कुलधर्मतः । श्रुतिमार्गं परित्यज्य स्वविवाहाः कृतास्तथा

Transliteration

kṛṣṇo bhūtvānyanāryaśca dūṣitāḥ kuladharmataḥ | śrutimārgaṃ parityajya svavivāhāḥ kṛtāstathā

Translation

‘കൃഷ്ണൻ’ ആയി അനാര്യാചാരം ചെയ്തതിനാൽ അവർ കുലധർമ്മത്തിൽ മലിനരായി; ശ്രുതി എന്ന വൈദിക മാർഗം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് സ്വേച്ഛാവിവാഹങ്ങളും നടത്തി।

Word by Word

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुक्रम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• अन्य: other/another
• अन्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (अनार्यः) विशेषण

• अनार्यः: ignoble/uncivil
• अनार्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (कृष्णः) विशेषण

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

• दूषिताः: were defiled
• दूषिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (अस्ति-लुप्त) ‘were corrupted/defiled’

• कुलधर्मतः: from/with respect to family-dharma
• कुलधर्मतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कुलस्य धर्मः), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (because of/with respect to)

• श्रुतिमार्गम्: the path of śruti (Vedic tradition)
• श्रुतिमार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (श्रुतेः मार्गः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुक्रम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• स्वविवाहाः: their own marriages
• स्वविवाहाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य विवाहाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कृताः: were done/performed
• कृताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (अस्ति-लुप्त) ‘were performed’

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts śruti-based dharma with self-willed conduct, implying that spiritual stability and purity arise from alignment with Vedic discipline; from a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, right conduct supports devotion to Pati (Śiva) and loosens pāśa (bondage).

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship in the Purāṇa is repeatedly framed as effective when joined to dharmic observance (śruti-mārga); abandoning foundational discipline is portrayed as a cause of moral and ritual decline, weakening the devotee’s receptivity to Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to return to śruti-aligned sādhana: regular Shiva-pūjā with purity and restraint, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and traditional observances (such as bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) performed with dharmic intent.