Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship

Devanagari script

विषमालोक्य वा पेयं श्रेयो वा स्पर्शनं परम् । सेवितव्यं शिवस्वं न प्राणः कण्ठगतैरपि

Transliteration

viṣamālokya vā peyaṃ śreyo vā sparśanaṃ param | sevitavyaṃ śivasvaṃ na prāṇaḥ kaṇṭhagatairapi

Translation

விஷத்தைப் பார்க்க வேண்டியதாயினும் குடிக்க வேண்டியதாயினும், தொடுதலால் மட்டும் பரம நன்மை கிடைத்தாலும்—சிவனுக்குரிய சொத்தை ஒருபோதும் கைப்பற்றி அனுபவிக்கக் கூடாது; உயிர் தொண்டை வரை வந்தாலும் கூட.

Word by Word

• viṣam: poison
• viṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• ālokya: having seen
• ālokya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā√lok (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having seen/looked at’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (विकल्प/alternative particle)

• peyam: should be drunk
• peyam: Vidheyapada (विधेय/obligatory predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (पा धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; ‘to be drunk/should be drunk’

• śreyaḥ: the better (course)
• śreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; comparative noun ‘the better/good’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Vikalpa-avyaya (विकल्प particle)

• sparśanam: touching
• sparśanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of ‘sparśanam’

• sevitavyam: should be served
• sevitavyam: Vidheyapada (विधेय/predicate of obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sev (सेव् धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्), Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; ‘to be served/should be resorted to’

• śiva-svam: that which belongs to Śiva (Śiva’s own)
• śiva-svam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of Śiva’), Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (निषेध/negation particle)

• prāṇaḥ: life-breath; life
• prāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• kaṇṭha-gataiḥ: with (things) that have reached the throat
• kaṇṭha-gataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (गम् धातोः क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: ‘gone to the throat’), Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/करण), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya/Avadhāraṇa-avyaya (समुच्चय/‘even’)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva Purāṇa teachings to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches unwavering dharma toward Śiva: never exploit what is consecrated to Him, even under fear, temptation, or life-threatening pressure—true devotion is steadfast integrity.

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

In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, items offered to Śiva (naivedya, flowers, wealth, temple resources) become Śiva’s sacred possession; misappropriating them is treated as a serious breach of bhakti and temple-dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice disciplined offering and restraint: dedicate acts and possessions to Śiva, avoid taking back what is offered, and reinforce devotion through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of non-appropriation.