Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

वेदमार्गं पुरस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणाश्शूद्रयाजिनः । दरिद्रा वै भविष्यंति प्रतिग्रहरता स्सदा

Transliteration

vedamārgaṃ puraskṛtya brāhmaṇāśśūdrayājinaḥ | daridrā vai bhaviṣyaṃti pratigraharatā ssadā

Translation

വേദമാർഗ്ഗത്തെ മുന്നിൽ വെച്ച് ശൂദ്രർക്കായി യാഗം നടത്തിക്കുന്ന ബ്രാഹ്മണർ നിശ്ചയമായി ദരിദ്രരാകും; കാരണം അവർ എപ്പോഴും പ്രതിഗ്രഹത്തിൽ (ദാനം സ്വീകരിക്കൽ) ആസക്തരായിരിക്കും.

Word by Word

• वेदमार्गम्: the path of the Veda
• वेदमार्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वेदस्य मार्गः

• पुरस्कृत्य: having put forward; prioritizing
• पुरस्कृत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), √कृ (to do), उपसर्ग: पुरस्; अर्थः: ‘पुरतः कृत्वा’ (having put in front)

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Plural)

• शूद्रयाजिनः: those who officiate sacrifices for Śūdras
• शूद्रयाजिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र + याजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: शूद्रं यजति इति (one who performs sacrifice for a Śūdra)

• दरिद्राः: poor, impoverished
• दरिद्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दरिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle) — एव/खलु-अर्थे (emphasis)

• भविष्यन्ति: will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रतिग्रहरताः: addicted to receiving gifts
• प्रतिग्रहरताः: Hetu/Guṇa (हेतु/गुण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिग्रह + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः: प्रतिग्रहे रताः (engaged in accepting gifts)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It warns that dharma collapses when sacred rites are driven by greed; in Shaiva understanding, ritual must be purified by devotion and right intention, otherwise it yields binding karma and worldly suffering such as poverty and loss of merit.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes inner purity, humility, and devotion to Saguna Shiva; this verse contrasts that ideal with ritualism done for payment, implying that true Shaiva worship is not a marketplace transaction but a disciplined offering (ārādhana) aligned with dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to perform worship and japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with restraint and non-greed, keeping offerings and priestly duties free from excessive fee-seeking; maintain purity through simple pūjā, bhasma/tripuṇḍra where appropriate, and sincere vrata discipline.