Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

द्विजाः क्व संति भूयांसो ब्रह्मतेजोतिबृंहिता । श्रुत्यध्यनसंपन्नास्तपोबलसमन्विताः

Transliteration

dvijāḥ kva saṃti bhūyāṃso brahmatejotibṛṃhitā | śrutyadhyanasaṃpannāstapobalasamanvitāḥ

Translation

బ్రహ్మతేజస్సుతో విస్తరించిన ఆ అనేక ద్విజ ఋషులు ఎక్కడున్నారు? శ్రుతి అధ్యయనంలో నిపుణులై, తపోబలంతో సమన్వితులై ఉన్నవారు ఎక్కడ?

Word by Word

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्व: where?
• क्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative locator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• सन्ति: are / exist
• सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भूयांसः: more numerous / many
• भूयांसः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of द्विजाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूयस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक/Comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative adjective)

• ब्रह्मतेजः: Brahmanic radiance
• ब्रह्मतेजः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Qualifier within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of Brahman' + 'splendour'); प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन-रूप (stem used in compound)

• उतिबृंहिताः: strengthened/augmented by (sacred) utterance
• उतिबृंहिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of द्विजाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उति + बृंहित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'बृंहित' = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) from √बृह्/बृंह् (to increase/strengthen), उपपद-तत्पुरुष (uti- as upapada)

• श्रुति-अध्ययन-संपन्नाः: accomplished in Vedic study
• श्रुति-अध्ययन-संपन्नाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of द्विजाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति + अध्ययन + संपन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'endowed with (संपन्न) study (अध्ययन) of the Vedas (श्रुति)'; संपन्न = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √पद्/√पन् (to be endowed/attain)

• तपः-बल-समन्विताः: endowed with austerity and strength
• तपः-बल-समन्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of द्विजाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् + बल + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'endowed with (समन्वित) austerity (तपस्) and strength (बल)'; समन्वित = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from सम्+√नी (to be joined/endowed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, with this verse reflecting a lament/inquiry within the Yuddha narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; it laments the absence/whereabouts of Veda-endowed dvijas, foregrounding brahma-tejas as a protective spiritual force that should have been present.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic ideal of the true “dvija”: one whose inner luminosity (brahma-tejas) is matured through Vedic discipline and tapas—spiritual power rooted in purity, restraint, and dharma.

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

In Shaiva understanding, Vedic study and tapas become complete when directed toward Pati (Shiva). Such brahma-tejas supports steady Saguna worship (Linga-upāsanā) and prepares the mind for deeper realization of Shiva beyond forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily śruti-recitation or mantra-japa with disciplined tapas (self-restraint). In Shaiva practice this is commonly paired with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a sattvic, vow-based routine.