Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

वीर्यान्मुनिवरस्याप्त्वा राक्षसेशत्वमादिशम् । स्यातां विभवसंयुक्तौ बलिनो सुप्रतापिनौ

Transliteration

vīryānmunivarasyāptvā rākṣaseśatvamādiśam | syātāṃ vibhavasaṃyuktau balino supratāpinau

Translation

ആ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ മുനിവരന്റെ വീര്യം ലഭിച്ച ശേഷം അവൻ അവർക്കു രാക്ഷസാധിപത്യം നിശ്ചയിച്ചു. അങ്ങനെ അവർ ഇരുവരും വിഭവസമ്പന്നരും ബലവാന്മാരും അത്യന്തം പ്രതാപശാലികളും ആയി.

Word by Word

• vīryāt: from the power/energy
• vīryāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th: पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• muni-varasya: of the best sage
• muni-varasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (मुनिः एव वरः), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th: षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• āptvā: having obtained
• āptvā: Kriyā (क्रिया-अव्ययभाव/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त), having obtained (पूर्वकालिक क्रियाविशेषण)

• rākṣasa-īśatvam: lordship over the rākṣasas
• rākṣasa-īśatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: राक्षसानाम् ईशत्वम्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādiśam: I ordained/commanded
• ādiśam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: diś (धातु) + ā- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• syātām: let the two be/may the two become
• syātām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vibhava-saṃyuktau: endowed with prosperity/power
• vibhava-saṃyuktau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vibhava (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (सम्+युज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष भाव: विभवेन संयुक्तौ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• balinaḥ: strong (the two)
• balinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); adjective used substantively

• su-pratāpinau: very mighty/ardent in prowess
• su-pratāpinau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय-उपसर्ग) + pratāpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); su- as intensifier (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how tapas-born spiritual potency (vīrya) can confer worldly authority, yet Shaiva Siddhanta cautions that such power is secondary to devotion to Pati (Shiva) and liberation; boons amplify one’s nature, so power without dharma deepens bondage (pāśa).

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

In the Shiva Purana, Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) is the ultimate giver of grace, while other gained powers are limited and situational; this verse implicitly contrasts transient dominion (rakshasa-īśatva) with the enduring refuge of Shiva’s worship that leads beyond worldly hierarchy.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to channel spiritual energy through Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and disciplined conduct, seeking Shiva’s anugraha (grace) rather than mere increase of status or force.