Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 41

Gṛhapati’s Vow: Turning Grief into Mṛtyuñjaya–Mahākāla Sādhana (गृहपतेः प्रतिज्ञा—मृत्युंजय-महाकालजपः)

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा क्रोध संरक्तलोचनः । उद्यम्य कुलिशं घोरम्भीषयामास बालकम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā krodha saṃraktalocanaḥ | udyamya kuliśaṃ ghorambhīṣayāmāsa bālakam

Translation

ਨੰਦੀਸ਼ਵਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਉਸ ਦੇ ਬਚਨ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਕ੍ਰੋਧ ਨਾਲ ਲਾਲ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਭਿਆਨਕ ਕੁਲਿਸ਼ ਵਰਗਾ ਹਥਿਆਰ ਚੁੱਕਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਲਕ ਨੂੰ ਡਰਾਉਣ ਲੱਗ ਪਿਆ।

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; proper noun; compound: nandī + īśvara (‘lord of Nandī/ Nandīśvara’)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच्)
• Form: Perfect/liṭ (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यादि-निपात) marking end of speech/thought

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• vacaḥ: words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; ‘speech/words’

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriya (क्रिया) (पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा), ‘having heard’

• krodha: with anger
• krodha: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; used adverbially ‘with anger/in anger’

• saṃrakta-locanaḥ: red-eyed
• saṃrakta-locanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃrakta (प्रातिपदिक) + locana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya ‘having reddened eyes’

• udyamya: having raised
• udyamya: Kriya (क्रिया) (पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yam (यम्) with ud- + udyamya (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having lifted/raised’

• kuliśam: the thunderbolt weapon
• kuliśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuliśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; ‘thunderbolt/club’

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; adjective qualifying kuliśam

• bhīṣayāmāsa: frightened
• bhīṣayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhī (भी) (causative)
• Form: Causative (णिच्) + Perfect-like periphrastic (आमास), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada; ‘frightened/caused to fear’

• bālakam: the boy
• bālakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Virabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how anger (krodha) quickly colors perception (“reddened eyes”) and becomes a binding force (pāśa). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such passions veil the soul’s clarity and must be transformed through devotion and Shiva-oriented discipline.

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

The narrative contrast between intimidation and inner steadiness points devotees toward Saguna Shiva as the refuge who grants fearlessness (abhaya). Linga-worship trains the mind to return to Shiva as the stable center rather than react from anger.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cool anger and stabilize the mind; applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing Rudrākṣa are traditional Shaiva supports for cultivating restraint and fearlessness.