Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

Devanagari script

वृत्रशत्रावपि क्रुद्धे वेदनाशं सपक्षकम् । पविक्षतानां देवर्षे पक्षच्छिदि वराङ्गकम्

Transliteration

vṛtraśatrāvapi kruddhe vedanāśaṃ sapakṣakam | pavikṣatānāṃ devarṣe pakṣacchidi varāṅgakam

Translation

اے دیورشی، ورترا کے قاتل اندر کے غضب میں بھی یہ (اثر) درد کو اس کے ‘پر’ یعنی معاون اسباب سمیت مٹا دینے والا ہوا۔ بجرا سے زخمیوں کے لیے یہ پر کاٹنے—یعنی دوبارہ نقصان کی قوت چھین لینے—کا بہترین وسیلہ بنا۔

Word by Word

• वृत्र-शत्रौ: in/with the enemy of Vṛtra (Indra)
• वृत्र-शत्रौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'वृत्रस्य शत्रुः' (enemy of Vṛtra = Indra)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे (also/even)

• क्रुद्धे: when angry / in the angry one
• क्रुद्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √क्रुध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• वेदनाशम्: destruction of pain
• वेदनाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेदना (प्रातिपदिक) + नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'वेदनायाः नाशः'

• स-पक्षकम्: together with wings/companions
• स-पक्षकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपसर्गार्थक; सह) + पक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभावः: 'सह पक्षकैः' (together with its wings/retinue)

• पवि-क्षतानाम्: of those wounded by the thunderbolt
• पवि-क्षतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवि (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √क्षद्/√क्षत् 'to wound')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: 'पविना क्षताः' (wounded by the thunderbolt)

• देव-ऋषे: O divine sage
• देव-ऋषे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः: 'देवश्चासौ ऋषिः'

• पक्ष-च्छिदि: in the wing-cutter
• पक्ष-च्छिदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + छिद् (प्रातिपदिक; from √छिद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'पक्षाणां छिद्' (cutter of wings)

• वर-अङ्गकम्: having a splendid body
• वर-अङ्गकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः: 'वरम् अङ्गकं यस्य/यत्' (having excellent limbs/body)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vritra

FAQs

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

The verse uses the image of wing-cutting to point to liberation: true relief is not merely easing pain, but severing its “wings”—the supporting causes that let suffering return. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it hints at cutting pāśa (bondage) so the soul moves toward Shiva’s grace and freedom.

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

Though the verse itself is metaphorical, it aligns with Saguna Shiva worship where the devotee seeks Shiva’s śakti to destroy not only visible distress but also its hidden supports (karma, impurity, attachment). Linga worship is approached as a means of uprooting the causes of duḥkha, not just obtaining temporary relief.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to pair devotion with inner severance: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady vairāgya, and purification disciplines (e.g., Tripuṇḍra-bhasma with remembrance of Shiva) aimed at cutting the recurring causes of suffering.