Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र देवर्षीणां पुरो द्रुतम् । तद्रेतसस्समभवंस्तन्मिताश्च बलाहका

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare tatra devarṣīṇāṃ puro drutam | tadretasassamabhavaṃstanmitāśca balāhakā

Translation

Sementara itu, pada saat itu juga, dengan pantas di hadapan para resi dewa, muncul awan-awan yang lahir daripada benih suci (tenaga) itu dan berkadar dengan ukurannya.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (contextual), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्तरे: in the meantime/interval
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative: 'in the interval')

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• देव-ऋषीणाम्: of the divine sages
• देव-ऋषीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: देवाश्च ते ऋषयः (divine sages); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• पुरः: in front; before
• पुरः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): 'in front/before'

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dru)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative): द्रुतम् = शीघ्रम् (quickly)

• तत्-रेतसः: of that semen
• तत्-रेतसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + retas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: तस्य रेतः (that semen); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• समभवन्: arose/came into being
• समभवन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: samabhavat (√bhū धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; (पाठभेदे 'समभवन्' = 'they arose')

• तत्-मिताः: measured by that (same measure)
• तत्-मिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + mita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √mā)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: तेन मिताः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कृदन्त (PPP)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• बलाहकाः: clouds
• बलाहकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages, within the Rudra Saṃhitā’s Satī narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: storm-cloud manifestation as a pralaya-sign

Characters & Entities

• Devarshi (divine seers)
• Balāhaka (clouds)

FAQs

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

It portrays how even natural forces (like clouds) arise in an ordered way from divine power, pointing to Śiva as Pati—the supreme source who governs manifestation through His śakti.

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

The verse supports Saguna contemplation: visible phenomena are effects of the Lord’s power. In Liṅga worship, devotees meditate that the manifest world is sustained by Śiva’s presence and energy, not random chance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is pañcākṣarī-japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with visualization that all elements and events arise from Śiva’s śakti and return to Him—cultivating surrender and steadiness.