Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces

Devanagari script

पतिव्रता शीलगुणोपपन्ना एकाकिनी नित्यमथो विभीता । गुहांतरे दुःखपरा बभूव संरक्षिता सा सुतवीरकेण

Transliteration

pativratā śīlaguṇopapannā ekākinī nityamatho vibhītā | guhāṃtare duḥkhaparā babhūva saṃrakṣitā sā sutavīrakeṇa

Translation

Наделённая добродетелями благого нрава и непоколебимой верностью мужу, она оставалась одна и всегда была в страхе. Живя в пещере, она погрузилась в скорбь; однако там её оберегал отважный юноша Сутавӣрака.

Word by Word

• पति-व्रता: devoted to her husband
• पति-व्रता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी/षष्ठीभाव): ‘पत्यौ व्रतम् यस्याः/या’ = devoted to husband; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• शील-गुण-उपपन्ना: endowed with good conduct and virtues
• शील-गुण-उपपन्ना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शील (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपपन्न (उप-√पद्/√पद्, क्त/कृदन्त ‘endowed’)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘शीलगुणैः उपपन्ना’ = endowed with virtues and conduct; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• एकाकिनी: alone
• एकाकिनी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाकिन्/एकाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-अव्ययीभाव — adverb ‘always/constantly’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रसङ्गार्थक-अव्यय — ‘then/and now’

• उ: indeed (emphatic)
• उ: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय)
• Form: पादपूरण/निपात — expletive particle (emphasis)

• विभीता: frightened
• विभीता: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभीत (वि-√भी, क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गुहा-अन्तरे: inside a cave
• गुहा-अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी): ‘गुहायाम् अन्तरे’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — Neuter, Locative, Singular

• दुःख-परा: absorbed in sorrow
• दुःख-परा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘दुःखे परा/निष्ठा’ = intent on sorrow; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• बभूव: became/was
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular

• संरक्षिता: protected
• संरक्षिता: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सुत-वीरकेण: by Sutavīraka
• सुत-वीरकेण: Karaṇa (करणम्) / Agent-instrument (कर्तृकरणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक) + वीरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी): ‘सुतस्य वीरकः’ (नामविशेषः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Sutavīraka

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma and inner endurance: even when the devotee is isolated and fearful, righteous character (śīla) and fidelity (pativratā-dharma) become the ground for protection—reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta idea that grace safeguards the soul amid suffering.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion by showing that protection and refuge are experienced concretely in the world; Linga worship embodies approaching Shiva as the accessible Lord (Pati) who shelters devotees through instruments and helpers within the story.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is fear-removal through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) along with steady dharmic living; pairing japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa can be adopted as Shaiva disciplines for composure and protection.