Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

दक्षयज्ञोत्तरवृत्तान्तः

Post–Dakṣa-Yajña Developments and the Appeal to Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

पर्यक् कृताचलच्छायं पादोन विटपाय तम् । शतयोजन कोत्सेधं निर्नीडं तापवर्ज्जितम्

Transliteration

paryak kṛtācalacchāyaṃ pādona viṭapāya tam | śatayojana kotsedhaṃ nirnīḍaṃ tāpavarjjitam

Translation

ร่มเงาของมันกว้างใหญ่ดุจเงาภูเขาที่ปูเป็นแท่นบรรทม กิ่งก้านโน้มต่ำเกือบถึงพื้น ต้นไทรนั้นสูงร้อยโยชน์ ปราศจากรังนก และไร้ความร้อนโดยสิ้นเชิง

Word by Word

• paryak: all around
• paryak: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paryak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'all around/entirely'

• kṛta-acala-chāyam: having shade made by the mountain (i.e., mountain-like shade)
• kṛta-acala-chāyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त, क्त; from kṛ धातु) + acala (प्रातिपदिक) + chāyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa 'acalena kṛtā chāyā yasya' used adjectivally for vaṭam

• pāda-ūnam: a quarter less
• pāda-ūnam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + ūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa 'pādena ūnam' = 'a quarter less'

• viṭapāya: for the branches / to the extent of branches
• viṭapāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṭapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; used in sense of measure/extent (for the branches)

• tam: that (tree)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun referring to vaṭam

• śata-yojana: of a hundred yojanas
• śata-yojana: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + yojana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Dvigu numeral compound qualifying utsedham

• ka-utsedham: height
• ka-utsedham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ka (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + utsedha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; read as kotsedham = ko + utsedham (sandhi); 'ko' possibly intensifier/particle-like element; sense: 'height'

• nir-nīḍam: without nests
• nir-nīḍam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir- (उपसर्ग) + nīḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; privative 'without nests'

• tāpa-varjjitam: free from heat/suffering
• tāpa-varjjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + varjita (कृदन्त, क्त; from vṛj/varj धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Tatpuruṣa 'tāpena varjitam'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘Śāṅkara-vaṭa’ is described as supernormal: mountain-like shade, immense height, and freedom from heat—marking it as a liminal yogic kṣetra where ordinary nature is transcended.

Significance: Such descriptions function as kṣetra-lakṣaṇa: the sacred place itself quiets tapas/heat and agitation, preparing the mind for yogic absorption and Śiva-darśana.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

The imagery of a vast, heatless shade points to Shiva’s grace as the remover of tāpa (the burning pains of saṃsāra). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it suggests the cooling refuge of Pati (Shiva) where the bound soul (paśu) finds relief from bondage (pāśa) through divine protection.

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

Though the verse describes an environment rather than a direct ritual, it supports Saguna Shiva-bhakti by portraying a sanctified space fit for contemplation and approach to the Lord. Such “cool, pure, undisturbed” loci are characteristic of places where the Linga is worshipped—symbolizing Shiva as the stable refuge beyond worldly agitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is dhyāna in a pure, quiet place: sit in a cool, clean spot, steady the mind, and repeat the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeking freedom from inner heat (anger, craving, restlessness).