Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

पुरा मम मतिर्भ्रष्टासीच्छिवेच्छावशात् युवम् । सर्वथा मोहमापन्नश्शप्तवान्वां कुशेमुषिः

Transliteration

purā mama matirbhraṣṭāsīcchivecchāvaśāt yuvam | sarvathā mohamāpannaśśaptavānvāṃ kuśemuṣiḥ

Translation

پہلے شیو کی مرضی کے زیرِ اثر میری سمجھ بگڑ گئی۔ میں پوری طرح موہ میں پڑ کر—کُشیمُشی—تم دونوں کو بددعا دے بیٹھا۔

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• मम: my/of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• मतिः: mind/intellect
• मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भ्रष्टा: deviated/deranged
• भ्रष्टा: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रष्ट (कृदन्त, √भ्रंश्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (fallen/deranged)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शिव-इच्छा-अवशात्: due to the compulsion of Śiva’s will
• शिव-इच्छा-अवशात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/अपादान (ablative: 'due to/under the sway of')

• युवम्: you two
• युवम्: Karta (कर्ता) (addressed pair)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वथा: entirely
• सर्वथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'in every way/entirely')

• मोहम्: delusion
• मोहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having fallen into
• आपन्नः: Karta (कर्ता) विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आपन्न (कृदन्त, √आपद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (having fallen into)

• शप्तवान्: cursed
• शप्तवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया) (participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप्तवत् (कृदन्त, √शप्)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle/कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; finite sense: 'cursed'

• वाम्: you two (as object)
• वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन (enclitic)

• कुशेमुषिः: Kuśemuṣi (the sage)
• कुशेमुषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशेमुषि (प्रातिपदिक; proper name)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Kuśemuṣi (a sage speaking within Sṛṣṭi Khaṇḍa narration, as relayed by Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kuśemuṣi

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that even a sage’s intellect can be veiled by moha when Śiva’s cosmic will operates; the curse becomes an instrument within divine order, reminding seekers to rely on Śiva rather than pride in knowledge.

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

By attributing delusion and its resolution to Śiva’s will, the text points to Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who governs creation and karma; devotion to Śiva (often through Liṅga worship) is presented as the stabilizing refuge when the mind is disturbed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter moha through Śiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), paired with humility and repentance—seeing obstacles as occasions to return to Śiva’s grace.