Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

शोकाकुलं हरिं दृष्ट्वा विलपंतीं च तत्प्रियाम् । नयेन बोधयामास तं तां कृपणवत्सलाम्

Transliteration

śokākulaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā vilapaṃtīṃ ca tatpriyām | nayena bodhayāmāsa taṃ tāṃ kṛpaṇavatsalām

Translation

ശോകത്തിൽ ആകുലനായ ഹരിയെയും അവന്റെ പ്രിയതമേ വിലപിക്കുന്നതും കണ്ടു, ദീനവത്സലനായ കരുണാമൂർത്തി നയവചനങ്ങളാൽ ഇരുവരെയും ബോധിപ്പിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• शोकाकुलम्: overwhelmed with grief
• शोकाकुलम्: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्मान्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शोकेन आकुलः); adjective qualifying हरिम्

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-pūrvakāla (क्रियापूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• विलपन्तीम्: lamenting
• विलपन्तीम्: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्मान्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + लप् (धातु) → विलपन्ती (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying तत्प्रियाम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तत्प्रियाम्: his beloved (wife)
• तत्प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य प्रिया); object alongside हरिम् (seen)

• नयेन: by tact/wise counsel
• नयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; means/manner

• बोधयामास: instructed/made (them) understand
• बोधयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: caused to understand)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; pronoun referring to हरिम्

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; pronoun referring to तत्प्रियाम्

• कृपणवत्सलाम्: compassionate to the distressed
• कृपणवत्सलाम्: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्मान्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण + वत्सला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृपणानां वत्सला); adjective qualifying ताम् (her)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a Shaiva ethic: in times of grief, divine wisdom (naya) and compassion stabilize the mind, turning sorrow into discernment and renewed dharma—qualities that ultimately support liberation-oriented living.

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

Though the verse is narrative, its teaching aligns with Saguna Shiva devotion: the devotee approaches Shiva as the compassionate refuge who consoles and restores inner order; Linga-worship similarly centers the mind when emotions surge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during grief, optionally with Rudraksha, to regain clarity and receive Shiva’s grace as inner counsel.