Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

यत्रयत्र धरायां च चरणं प्रमिणोति हि । अचलां सचलां तत्र करोति निज भारतः

Transliteration

yatrayatra dharāyāṃ ca caraṇaṃ pramiṇoti hi | acalāṃ sacalāṃ tatra karoti nija bhārataḥ

Translation

ไม่ว่าเขาจะวางเท้าและก้าววัดลงบนแผ่นดิน ณ ที่ใด ที่นั่นกำลังของเขาเองทำให้ผืนดินอันนิ่งสงบสั่นไหวและเคลื่อนไหวได้

Word by Word

• yatra-yatra: wherever
• yatra-yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय) + yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of place; repetition for distributive sense

• dharāyām: on the earth
• dharāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• caraṇam: foot/step
• caraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2), Singular

• pramiṇoti: measures/sets (his foot)
• pramiṇoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular; causative/strengthened with prefix pra-; meaning 'measures/sets down'

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic

• acalām: immovable
• acalām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2), Singular; agrees with implied 'dharām' (earth)

• sacalām: movable/shaking
• sacalām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sacala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2), Singular; agrees with implied 'dharām'

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place

• karoti: makes
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular

• nijaḥ: own
• nijaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular; qualifies 'bhārataḥ'

• bhārataḥ: the Bhārata (warrior/hero)
• bhārataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1), Singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: A heroic hyperbole verse (vīrya-varṇana) that, in Siddhānta reading, illustrates the limited but formidable power of embodied agents (paśu) under māyā—contrasted with Śiva’s unlimited śakti.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays overwhelming śakti: when divine power manifests, even what seems fixed and stable (the earth, the mind, the ego’s certainty) is shaken, urging surrender to Pati (Śiva) beyond ordinary limits.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva’s palpable majesty—experienced as awe, trembling, and transformation—mirroring how the Liṅga is worshipped as the visible focus where the Infinite becomes present and acts in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize awareness when life feels shaken, coupled with simple Śiva-bhakti (offering water to the Liṅga) to cultivate surrender.