Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode

Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall

Devanagari script

शोकाकुलं हरिं दृष्ट्वा विलपंतीं च तत्प्रियाम् । नयेन बोधयामास तं तां कृपणवत्सलाम्

Transliteration

śokākulaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā vilapaṃtīṃ ca tatpriyām | nayena bodhayāmāsa taṃ tāṃ kṛpaṇavatsalām

Translation

ہری کو غم سے بے قرار اور اس کی محبوبہ کو نوحہ کرتی دیکھ کر، دِینوں پر مہربان کرُنامورتِی نے نرمی اور حکمت بھرے کلمات سے دونوں کو سمجھایا۔

Word by Word

• शोकाकुलम्: overwhelmed with grief
• शोकाकुलम्: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्मान्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोक + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शोकेन आकुलः); adjective qualifying हरिम्

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-pūrvakāla (क्रियापूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• विलपन्तीम्: lamenting
• विलपन्तीम्: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्मान्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + लप् (धातु) → विलपन्ती (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying तत्प्रियाम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तत्प्रियाम्: his beloved (wife)
• तत्प्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तस्य प्रिया); object alongside हरिम् (seen)

• नयेन: by tact/wise counsel
• नयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; means/manner

• बोधयामास: instructed/made (them) understand
• बोधयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: caused to understand)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; pronoun referring to हरिम्

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; pronoun referring to तत्प्रियाम्

• कृपणवत्सलाम्: compassionate to the distressed
• कृपणवत्सलाम्: Karma-anvayi Viśeṣaṇa (कर्मान्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृपण + वत्सला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृपणानां वत्सला); adjective qualifying ताम् (her)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a Shaiva ethic: in times of grief, divine wisdom (naya) and compassion stabilize the mind, turning sorrow into discernment and renewed dharma—qualities that ultimately support liberation-oriented living.

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

Though the verse is narrative, its teaching aligns with Saguna Shiva devotion: the devotee approaches Shiva as the compassionate refuge who consoles and restores inner order; Linga-worship similarly centers the mind when emotions surge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during grief, optionally with Rudraksha, to regain clarity and receive Shiva’s grace as inner counsel.