Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 16

ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः

Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins

Devanagari script

चन्द्रोऽपि बलवद्भाविवशान्मेने न तद्वचः । रोहिण्यां च समासक्तो नान्यां मेने कदाचन

Transliteration

candro'pi balavadbhāvivaśānmene na tadvacaḥ | rohiṇyāṃ ca samāsakto nānyāṃ mene kadācana

Translation

Nhưng ngay cả Chandra (Thần Nguyệt), bị sức mạnh của định mệnh và khuynh hướng mãnh liệt của chính mình lấn át, cũng chẳng nghe theo lời dạy ấy. Chỉ say đắm Rohiṇī, Ngài chưa từng xem các người vợ khác là ngang bằng vào bất cứ lúc nào.

Word by Word

• candraḥ: the Moon (Candra)
• candraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular)

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle/निपात), ‘also/even’

• balavat-bhāvi-vaśāt: due to the powerful impending influence (of fate/desire)
• balavat-bhāvi-vaśāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान ‘cause/from’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balavat + bhāvin + vaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Pañcamī vibhakti (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana (Singular); समास (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष): balavat (बलवत् ‘strong’) + bhāvin (भाविन् ‘future/impending’) + vaśa (वश ‘control/influence’)

• mene: thought, considered
• mene: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (negation/प्रतिषेध)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular)

• vacaḥ: word, speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṃsakaliṅga (Neuter), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular)

• rohiṇyām: in/with Rohiṇī
• rohiṇyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Saptamī vibhakti (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• samāsaktaḥ: attached, deeply devoted
• samāsaktaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā√sañj (धातु)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past participle (क्त/PPP); Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (Singular)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (negation/प्रतिषेध)

• anyām: another (woman)
• anyām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Feminine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (Singular)

• mene: considered, cared for
• mene: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (Singular); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• kadācana: ever, at any time
• kadācana: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb/काल)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is the Dakṣa–Candra domestic-ethical narrative that sets up Candra’s curse and later Śiva’s salvific intervention in the broader mythic cycle.

Significance: Didactic: warns against rāga (exclusive attachment) and adharma in household duties; prompts recourse to Śiva for restoration through grace.

Characters & Entities

• Chandra
• Rohini

FAQs

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

It highlights how attachment (rāga) and the momentum of karma can eclipse right discernment, becoming a pasha (bond) that turns one away from dharma—an obstacle Shaiva teaching urges devotees to transcend through Shiva-oriented detachment and devotion.

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

The narrative illustrates the mind’s tendency to cling to one object of desire; Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-bhakti re-center that same focus toward Shiva, transforming fixation into disciplined devotion and gradually loosening worldly bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of restraint (niyama), using Shiva-bhakti to reduce possessiveness and cultivate equanimity.