Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

उत्पातवर्णनम् / Description of Portents at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ततस्ते तापसंतप्ता रुरुदुः कुररी इव । रोदनध्वनिसंक्रातोरुक्तिप्रत्युक्तिका इव

Transliteration

tataste tāpasaṃtaptā ruruduḥ kurarī iva | rodanadhvanisaṃkrātoruktipratyuktikā iva

Translation

பின்னர் தவமும் துயரும் தரும் தகிப்பால் வாடி அவர்கள் குரரீப் பறவை போல அழுதனர்; அவர்களின் அழுகை ஒலி வானில் எதிரொலிபோல்—அழைப்பும் பதிலும் போல—மீண்டும் மீண்டும் முழங்கியது.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/अनन्तरं (ablatival/temporal adverb: thereafter)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• ताप-संतप्ताः: tormented by heat/pain
• ताप-संतप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताप (प्रातिपदिक) + संतप्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘तापेन संतप्ताः’

• रुरुदुः: they wept
• रुरुदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुररी: a curlew (bird)
• कुररी: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुररी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; उपमान

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• रोदन-ध्वनि-संक्रात-उक्ति-प्रत्युक्तिकाः: with cries echoing as call-and-response
• रोदन-ध्वनि-संक्रात-उक्ति-प्रत्युक्तिकाः: Upamāna-viśeṣaṇa (उपमानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोदन (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक) + संक्रात (कृदन्त) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रत्युक्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; अर्थः—‘रोदनध्वनिना संक्रान्ता (परस्परं गता) उक्तिः प्रत्युक्तिश्च येषाम्’ (having cries whose utterances and responses pass along as sound)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: lamentation spreading like echo; ‘tāpa’ as heat of grief/austerity amid cosmic disturbance

FAQs

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

It portrays how overwhelming sorrow can purify the heart: when worldly supports collapse, the soul’s emotion becomes concentrated, and devotion (bhakti) naturally intensifies—an inner turning toward Pati (Śiva) beyond mere ritual.

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

The verse emphasizes a Saguna-bhakti mood: the devotee’s heartfelt cry and remembrance become a living offering. In Shaiva practice, such emotion is redirected into Linga-worship through japa, prayer, and surrender rather than remaining as aimless grief.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Transform lament into mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—and steady the mind with simple Linga-dhyāna; offer the emotion as inner arghya, supported by bhasma/tripuṇḍra and a vow of restraint.