Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation

Devanagari script

व्याश्वासः सर्वलोकानां किमु चार्यो हि शंकर । कर्तव्य किमुतेशान सर्वप्राणिविहिंसनम्

Transliteration

vyāśvāsaḥ sarvalokānāṃ kimu cāryo hi śaṃkara | kartavya kimuteśāna sarvaprāṇivihiṃsanam

Translation

หากแม้ความระแวงเพียงเล็กน้อยต่อสรรพสัตว์ยังไม่สมควร แล้วต่อพระองค์เล่า โอ้ศังกร ผู้เป็นอาจารย์แท้ จะยิ่งไม่สมควรเพียงใด! โอ้อีศาน การเบียดเบียนสัตว์มีชีวิตใด ๆ จะเป็น ‘หน้าที่’ ได้อย่างไร

Word by Word

• व्याश्वासः: relief, assurance
• व्याश्वासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + आश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘relief/assurance’

• सर्व-लोकानाम्: of all the worlds
• सर्व-लोकानाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘of all worlds/people’

• किमु: how much more
• किमु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/अधिक्यसूचक-निपात (‘how much more?’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• आर्यः: the noble one
• आर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidheyārtha (विधेयार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• किमु: how much more
• किमु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + उ (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/अधिक्यसूचक-निपात

• ते: your
• ते: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; enclitic ‘of you/your’

• ईशान: O Īśāna
• ईशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• सर्व-प्राणि-विहिंसनम्: harm to all creatures
• सर्व-प्राणि-विहिंसनम्: Karma/Viṣaya (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राणि (प्रातिपदिक) + विहिंसन (प्रातिपदिक; from धातु हिंस् with वि-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘injury/killing of all living beings’ (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव)

Speaker

Goddess Satī (addressing Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It affirms that devotion to Śiva is inseparable from compassion: harming beings contradicts dharma, while reverence to Īśāna implies protecting life and cultivating purity of intention.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship is meant to soften ego and cruelty; this verse frames true worship as aligning one’s conduct with Śiva’s lordship as the inner ruler of all prāṇis, making non-violence a natural expression of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa with a compassionate resolve—especially the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—while observing ahiṁsā in thought, word, and deed; let worship (bhasma, rudrākṣa, pūjā) be supported by harmlessness.