Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings

Devanagari script

राज्याभिषिक्तः प्रपितामहेन त्रैलोक्यनाशाय मतिं चकार । उत्साद्य धर्मान् सकलान्प्रमत्तो जित्वाहवे सोपि सुरान्समस्तान्

Transliteration

rājyābhiṣiktaḥ prapitāmahena trailokyanāśāya matiṃ cakāra | utsādya dharmān sakalānpramatto jitvāhave sopi surānsamastān

Translation

Setelah ditabalkan sebagai raja oleh Sang Grandsire (Brahmā), dia pun menetapkan niat untuk memusnahkan tiga alam. Mabuk oleh keangkuhan, dia meruntuhkan segala dharma, dan dalam peperangan dia menundukkan semua dewa juga.

Word by Word

• राज्य-अभिषिक्तः: consecrated to kingship
• राज्य-अभिषिक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्य + अभिषिक्त (प्रातिपदिक; √सिच् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; तत्पुरुषः (राज्ये अभिषिक्तः/राज्याभिषेकं प्राप्तः)

• प्रपितामहेन: by the great-grandfather (Brahmā)
• प्रपितामहेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन

• त्रैलोक्य-नाशाय: for the destruction of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्य-नाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (dative), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रैलोक्यस्य नाशाय)

• मतिम्: intention/mind
• मतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• चकार: made/formed
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उत्साद्य: having uprooted/destroyed
• उत्साद्य: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund), ‘having destroyed/overthrown’

• धर्मान्: righteous laws/duties
• धर्मान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), बहुवचन

• सकलान्: all
• सकलान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of धर्मान्)

• प्रमत्तः: heedless
• प्रमत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमत्त (प्रातिपदिक; √मद् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (intoxicated/careless)

• जित्वा: having conquered
• जित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having conquered’

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• समस्तान्: all/entire
• समस्तान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of सुरान्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: incipient pralaya-like disorder in the three worlds (adharma ascendant)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights how consecrated power, when seized by ego and adharma, becomes destructive to the cosmic order; in Shaiva understanding, such pride (ahaṅkāra) veils wisdom and inevitably calls forth Shiva’s restoring grace and justice.

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

The verse sets the narrative backdrop for why the devas and worlds require Shiva’s protective intervention; devotion to Saguna Shiva (often through Linga worship) is presented in the Purana as the refuge that re-establishes dharma when worldly power turns tyrannical.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter pride and instability through daily Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and remembrance of dharma—seeking inner restraint before outer power.