Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मस्वहरणं कृत्वा हत्वापि ब्राह्मणान्बहून् । लिप्यते नरः पापैर्विरूपाक्षस्य सेवकः

Transliteration

brahmasvaharaṇaṃ kṛtvā hatvāpi brāhmaṇānbahūn | lipyate naraḥ pāpairvirūpākṣasya sevakaḥ

Translation

ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣର ଧନ ହରଣ କରି ଏବଂ ଅନେକ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଙ୍କୁ ହତ୍ୟା କରିଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଯେ ବିରୂପାକ୍ଷ (ଶିବ)ଙ୍କ ସେବକ-ଭକ୍ତ, ସେ ପାପରେ ଲିପ୍ତ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मस्वहरणम्: theft of Brahmin property
• ब्रह्मस्वहरणम्: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘kṛtvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मस्व + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; tatpuruṣa: brahma-sva-haraṇa = ‘stealing Brahmin-property’ (brahmasva = property of a brāhmaṇa)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having done’

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया/gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having killed’

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

• ब्राह्मणान्: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘hatvā’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural (बहुवचन)

• बहून्: many
• बहून्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural; qualifies ‘brāhmaṇān’

• लिप्यते: is tainted; is smeared
• लिप्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Ātmanepada, 3rd person, Singular; passive-like sense ‘is tainted’

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• पापैः: by sins; with sins
• पापैः: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• विरूपाक्षस्य: of Virūpākṣa (Śiva)
• विरूपाक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; epithet of Śiva

• सेवकः: servant; devotee
• सेवकः: Karta (कर्ता/appositional subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; in apposition to ‘naraḥ’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes the supremacy of Śiva-sevā as a purifier that overrides even mahāpātaka-karmic taints—read in Siddhānta as the extraordinary power of Śiva’s grace (anugraha) when devotion is genuine and transformative.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on Śiva’s grace (anugraha): sincere service and surrender to Virūpākṣa can neutralize the binding force of pāpa-karma, because the Lord is Pati who can cut the pasha (bondage) of the soul.

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

Calling Śiva “Virūpākṣa” points to Saguna Śiva approached through devotion and service; in Purāṇic practice this is commonly expressed through Liṅga worship, where the devotee seeks purification through the Lord’s presence and grace rather than mere self-effort.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sevā-bhakti: daily Śiva-pūjā (especially Liṅga abhiṣeka), japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and living with humility and repentance—seeking Śiva’s grace to burn karmic stains.