Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

शिवपुत्रजननवर्णनम् — Description of the Birth/Manifestation of Śiva’s Son

Devanagari script

स्वार्थहेतोर्महेशानमाराध्य परमं प्रभुम् । नष्टं चक्रुर्मद्विहारं वंध्याऽभवमहं सुराः

Transliteration

svārthahetormaheśānamārādhya paramaṃ prabhum | naṣṭaṃ cakrurmadvihāraṃ vaṃdhyā'bhavamahaṃ surāḥ

Translation

Demi kepentingan diri, para dewa memuja Maheśa—Tuhan Yang Maha Agung. Mereka merosakkan lila (permainan suci)ku, hingga aku menjadi mandul—wahai para dewa.

Word by Word

• स्वार्थ-हेतोः: for self-interest
• स्वार्थ-हेतोः: अपादान/हेतु (Apādāna/Hetu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; हेतोः = हेतु-शब्दस्य पञ्चमी/षष्ठी एकवचन रूपम् (for the sake of self-interest)

• महेशानम्: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); उपसर्ग: आ-

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रभुम्: lord
• प्रभुम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• नष्टम्: ruined, destroyed
• नष्टम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from नश्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण

• चक्रुः: they made
• चक्रुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मत्-विहारम्: my pastime/pleasure
• मत्-विहारम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (my sport/pleasure-ground)

• वन्ध्या: barren
• वन्ध्या: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभवम्: I became
• अभवम्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/Imperfect-like past), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: अ- (augment)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुराः: O gods
• सुराः: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (8th/1st), बहुवचन; here vocative address

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that worship driven by svārtha (self-interest) can disrupt dharmic harmony; even when Shiva is pleased, the results may expose the worshipper’s motive and create karmic consequences. Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes purification of intention (bhakti with śuddha-bhāva) so grace uplifts rather than entangles.

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

Maheśa is approached as the supreme personal Lord (saguṇa-Śiva) who responds to devotion. The verse cautions that external acts—whether Linga-pūjā or praise—should be aligned with reverence and surrender, not merely transactional requests, because Shiva’s grace ultimately protects cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is to perform Shiva worship with pure intent: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, offering bilva leaves, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to renounce selfish motive and seek Shiva’s grace for inner transformation.