Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse

Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । प्राप्यावध्यत्वमुग्रात्स वज्रास्थित्वमदीनताम् । अताडयच्च राजेन्द्रं पादमूलेन मूर्द्धनि

Transliteration

brahmovāca | prāpyāvadhyatvamugrātsa vajrāsthitvamadīnatām | atāḍayacca rājendraṃ pādamūlena mūrddhani

Translation

ब्रह्मा म्हणाले—त्या उग्र (शिव) कडून अवध्यत्व, वज्रासारखी दृढ देहयष्टी आणि अढळ निर्भयता मिळवून, त्याने राजाधिराजाच्या मस्तकावर पायाच्या तळव्याने प्रहार केला.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; proper noun

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having obtained/attained’

• अवध्यत्वम्: invulnerability
• अवध्यत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवध्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक; अवध्य + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; abstract noun

• उग्रात्: from Ugra (the fierce one)
• उग्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; ablative ‘from the fierce one’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; pronoun

• वज्रास्थित्वम्: adamantine firmness (hardness like a thunderbolt)
• वज्रास्थित्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + अस्थित्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘vajra-like firmness/boniness’

• अदीनताम्: undauntedness
• अदीनताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदीनता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; abstract noun

• अताडयत्: struck
• अताडयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• राजेन्द्रम्: the king (O best of kings)
• राजेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समासार्थः ‘king of kings/Indra among kings’

• पादमूलेन: with the sole of (his) foot
• पादमूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘with the sole/base of the foot’

• मूर्द्धनि: on the head
• मूर्द्धनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Aghoramurti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how boons granting strength and invulnerability can inflate ego and lead to adharmic aggression; in Shaiva thought, power becomes auspicious only when surrendered to Pati (Śiva) through humility, devotion, and right conduct.

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

It contrasts worldly might with true refuge: Saguna Śiva (worshipped as the Liṅga) is the moral and spiritual center who restrains pride and protects dharma; the narrative underscores that devotion to Śiva, not mere boons, is the stable path.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is humility and self-restraint supported by Shaiva sādhanā—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and worship of the Liṅga with reverence—so that strength is governed by devotion rather than arrogance.