Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon

Devanagari script

प्रयच्छ नारीं सम सान्त्वपूर्वं स्त्रिया तपः किं कुरुषे विमूढ । अयुक्तमेतत्त्वयि नानुरूपं यस्मादहं रत्नपतिस्त्रिलोके

Transliteration

prayaccha nārīṃ sama sāntvapūrvaṃ striyā tapaḥ kiṃ kuruṣe vimūḍha | ayuktametattvayi nānurūpaṃ yasmādahaṃ ratnapatistriloke

Translation

ఆ స్త్రీని తిరిగి ఇవ్వు—సాంత్వనతో, మృదువైన మాటలతో. ఓ మూర్ఖుడా! పరస్త్రీతో నీవు ఏ తపస్సు చేయబోతున్నావు? ఇది నీకు తగదు, అనుచితం; ఎందుకంటే నేను త్రిలోకాల్లో ప్రసిద్ధుడైన రత్నపతి.

Word by Word

• prayaccha: give (hand over)
• prayaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yam (यम्)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Singular; Parasmaipada

• nārīm: the woman
• nārīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sama: fairly, evenly
• sama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial usage (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययभाव): ‘equally/with fairness’

• sāntva-pūrvam: after conciliating first
• sāntva-pūrvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sāntva (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; neuter-accusative singular used adverbially: ‘with conciliation first/preceded by soothing words’

• striyā: by/with a woman
• striyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by/with a woman’

• tapaḥ: austerity, penance
• tapaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of kuruṣe

• kim: what?
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative particle (प्रश्न-अव्यय): ‘what?’

• kuruṣe: you do
• kuruṣe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; Ātmanepada

• vimūḍha: O deluded one
• vimūḍha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi-mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक; from √muh/मुह्)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; संबोधन

• ayuktam: improper, unfitting
• ayuktam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-yukta (प्रातिपदिक; from √yuj/युज्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective for etat

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• tvayi: in you / for you
• tvayi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘in/for you’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• anurūpam: suitable, befitting
• anurūpam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anurūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; predicate adjective with implied ‘asti’

• yasmāt: since, because
• yasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative indeclinable (हेतु/causal): ‘because/since’

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular; 1st person pronoun

• ratna-patiḥ: lord of jewels
• ratna-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ratnānāṃ patiḥ = ‘lord of jewels’

• tri-loke: in the three worlds
• tri-loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular; द्विगु-समासः: tri-loka = ‘three worlds’

Speaker

Ratnapati (a king/warrior figure in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Ratnapati

FAQs

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

It distinguishes true tapas (austerity aligned with dharma and purity) from deluded “tapas” driven by desire; in Shaiva ethics, self-restraint and right conduct are prerequisites for spiritual power and Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is grounded in inner and outer purity; this verse underscores that violating dharma—especially through exploitation and uncontrolled passion—contradicts the discipline expected of a Shiva-bhakta seeking Saguna Shiva’s blessings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is dama (sense-control) and śuddhi (purification) as the basis for worship—supporting regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined vrata observance (e.g., Mahāśivarātri) without harming others.