Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 42

Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)

Devanagari script

अशैवास्संतु भवतां पुत्रपौत्रादयो द्विजाः । पुत्रैस्सहैव तिष्ठंतु भवंतो नरके ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

aśaivāssaṃtu bhavatāṃ putrapautrādayo dvijāḥ | putraissahaiva tiṣṭhaṃtu bhavaṃto narake dhruvam

Translation

اے دِوِجوں! تمہارے بیٹے، پوتے اور نسلیں سب غیرِ شَیوی ہو جائیں؛ اور تم بھی اپنے بیٹوں سمیت یقیناً دوزخ میں ہی رہو۔

Word by Word

• अशैवाः: non-Śaivas
• अशैवाः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ ‘non-Śaiva’

• सन्तु: let them be
• सन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवताम्: of you (all)
• भवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• पुत्रपौत्रादयः: sons, grandsons, and others
• पुत्रपौत्रादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र + पौत्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (पुत्राश्च पौत्राश्च) + ‘आदि’ (etc.); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• द्विजाः: twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पुत्रैः: with sons
• पुत्रैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (preposition-like: with)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात

• तिष्ठन्तु: let them remain
• तिष्ठन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवन्तः: you (all)
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; आदरार्थ ‘you’

• नरके: in hell
• नरके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative): निश्चितम् (certainly)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating in a phalaśruti/admonitory passage within Koṭirudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga passage; it uses naraka and aśaiva-bhāva as punitive outcomes within a curse narrative.

Significance: Negative exemplum: loss of Śaiva affiliation (aśaiva) is portrayed as spiritual downfall; implicitly urges safeguarding Śiva-bhakti and Śaiva saṃskāra in family/lineage.

FAQs

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

It functions as a strong admonition (nindā/phalāśruti style) declaring that turning away from Śiva-bhakti leads to severe demerit and suffering; from a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, it warns that neglecting Pati (Śiva) keeps the bound soul (paśu) under bondage (pāśa).

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

Koṭirudrasaṃhitā emphasizes accessible Saguna worship—especially through Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage and Liṅga-pūjā; this verse underscores that rejecting such Śiva-centered devotion is spiritually ruinous, while embracing Liṅga worship aligns one with Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied remedy is steady Śiva-ācāra: daily Liṅga-pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra), Rudrākṣa, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” reinforcing Śiva-bhakti and right orientation toward mokṣa.