Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka

Devanagari script

तारकाख्यस्तु पापेन स्वयमेष्यति संक्षयम् । यथा यूयं संविदध्वमुपदेशकरस्त्वहम्

Transliteration

tārakākhyastu pāpena svayameṣyati saṃkṣayam | yathā yūyaṃ saṃvidadhvamupadeśakarastvaham

Translation

“Kẻ mang tên Tāraka ấy, do chính tội lỗi của mình, tự sẽ đi đến diệt vong. Vậy hãy hành động theo điều các ngươi cho là thích hợp; ta chỉ là người ban lời chỉ dạy.”

Word by Word

• तारकाख्यः: (he) named Tāraka
• तारकाख्यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक); तारक-आख्य (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/नामधारक-अर्थ (one named Tāraka)

• तु: indeed, however
• तु: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• पापेन: by sin, due to sin
• पापेन: हेतु (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); करण/हेतु-प्रयोग (instrumental/cause)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), आत्मार्थ

• एष्यति: will go, will reach
• एष्यति: क्रिया (action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• संक्षयम्: destruction, end
• संक्षयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• यथा: as, so that
• यथा: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (clausal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/adverb), यथार्थे (as/so that)

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम

• संविदध्वम्: arrange, decide, carry out
• संविदध्वम्: क्रिया (injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• उपदेशकरः: the instructor, adviser
• उपदेशकरः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपदेश + कर (प्रातिपदिक); उपदेश-कर (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-सम्भाव्यः परन्तु सामान्यतः तत्पुरुष (one who does giving instruction)

• तु: indeed
• तु: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Śiva (inferred, advising the gods in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa context regarding Tāraka)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Taraka

FAQs

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

It teaches that adharma carries its own consequence: sin ripens into self-caused destruction. From a Śaiva perspective, Śiva’s governance of karma ensures that evil ultimately collapses under its own weight, while the righteous are guided toward dharmic action.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva as the compassionate Lord who actively guides devotees and devas through counsel and right discernment. Linga-worship emphasizes approaching Śiva as the living, benevolent ruler of karma who protects dharma and leads beings toward peace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is dharmic discernment (viveka) supported by Śiva-bhakti—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and prayer for right decision-making, especially when confronting adharma.