Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

हिरण्यनेत्रस्य तपः — Hiraṇyanetra’s Austerity and the Boon

Devanagari script

मत्वांधकं दुष्टमतिं प्रधानो महेश्वरो लौकिकभावशीलः । प्रोवाच दैत्यं स्मितपूर्वमेवमाकर्ण्य सर्वं त्वथ दूतवाक्यम्

Transliteration

matvāṃdhakaṃ duṣṭamatiṃ pradhāno maheśvaro laukikabhāvaśīlaḥ | provāca daityaṃ smitapūrvamevamākarṇya sarvaṃ tvatha dūtavākyam

Translation

เมื่อทรงทราบว่าอันธกะมีจิตคิดร้าย พระมหेशวรผู้ประเสริฐ—เพื่อการดำเนินตามวิถีโลกจึงทรงแสดงอาการดุจมนุษย์—ครั้นทรงสดับถ้อยคำทูตโดยครบถ้วนแล้ว จึงตรัสกับอสูรนั้นด้วยรอยยิ้มอ่อนโยนก่อน.

Word by Word

• matvā: having considered
• matvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √man (मन्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा): ‘having thought/considered’

• andhakam: Andhaka
• andhakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of matvā

• duṣṭa-matim: wicked-minded
• duṣṭa-matim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; कर्मधारयः: duṣṭā matiḥ yasya (as adjective to andhakam): ‘of wicked mind’

• pradhānaḥ: chief, foremost
• pradhānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pradhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective of maheśvaraḥ

• maheśvaraḥ: Maheshvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘the great Lord’

• laukika-bhāva-śīlaḥ: of a worldly disposition
• laukika-bhāva-śīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laukika (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहु-पद-तत्पुरुषः: laukikasya bhāvasya śīlaḥ = ‘having the disposition of worldly conduct’

• provāca: said, spoke
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (वच्)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्/perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular; Parasmaipada

• daityam: the demon
• daityam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; object of provāca

• smita-pūrvam: smiling first
• smita-pūrvam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: smita (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः; adverbial: ‘preceded by a smile’

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकार-अव्यय): ‘thus’

• ākarṇya: having heard
• ākarṇya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√kṛṇ/√karṇ (कर्ण् ‘to hear’)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्): ‘having heard’

• sarvam: everything
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; object of ākarṇya (‘having heard everything’)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/contrast): ‘but/indeed’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तर/sequence): ‘then/now’

• dūta-vākyam: the messenger’s message
• dūta-vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dūta (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: dūtasya vākyam = ‘messenger’s speech/message’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the scene of Lord Śiva addressing the demon after hearing the messenger)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)
• Andhaka
• Dūta (messenger)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s supreme mastery: even when confronting adharma, He remains inwardly untouched and responds with calm compassion, using worldly conduct (laukika-bhāva) as a pedagogical līlā to restore dharma.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Śiva—personally engaging the devotee or foe in history—while remaining the transcendent Pati. Linga-worship trains the mind to perceive this: the formless Absolute expressed through a gracious, approachable form that guides beings away from duṣṭa-mati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate Śiva-like composure through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditative restraint (saṁyama): hear fully, respond without anger, and anchor the mind in Śiva-bhāva before action.