Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

रुद्रभक्तो नरो यस्तु तव निंदां करिष्यति । तस्य पुण्यं च निखिलं द्रुतं भस्म भविष्यति

Transliteration

rudrabhakto naro yastu tava niṃdāṃ kariṣyati | tasya puṇyaṃ ca nikhilaṃ drutaṃ bhasma bhaviṣyati

Translation

Nhưng nếu một người là kẻ sùng kính Rudra mà lại buông lời phỉ báng Ngài, thì toàn bộ công đức đã tích lũy của người ấy sẽ mau chóng hóa thành tro bụi.

Word by Word

• rudra-bhaktaḥ: a devotee of Rudra
• rudra-bhaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य भक्तः)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• tava: your/of you
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन; ‘of you/your’

• nindām: censure/insult
• nindām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• kariṣyati: will do/commit
• kariṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन; ‘of him’

• puṇyam: merit
• puṇyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• nikhilam: entire/complete
• nikhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies puṇyam)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial use) = quickly

• bhasma: ashes
• bhasma: Pratipādya (प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate)

• bhaviṣyati: will become
• bhaviṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that devotion is not merely external worship; if a Rudra-bhakta engages in nindā (slander), his puṇya is destroyed, showing that purity of speech and reverence are essential for receiving Śiva’s grace.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship is grounded in bhakti, śraddhā, and right conduct; this verse warns that disrespectful speech (nindā) contradicts true Śiva-upāsanā and undermines the spiritual fruits of such worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech) alongside Śiva-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and adopt a repentant, purifying routine such as applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra) with mindful devotion to avoid aparādha.