Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

अथ दूतं समाहूय घस्मराभिधमुत्तमम् । सर्वं शशंस चरितं यदाह गुरुरात्मवान्

Transliteration

atha dūtaṃ samāhūya ghasmarābhidhamuttamam | sarvaṃ śaśaṃsa caritaṃ yadāha gururātmavān

Translation

Bấy giờ, triệu gọi sứ giả ưu tú tên Ghasmara, ông thuật lại trọn vẹn mọi diễn biến—đúng như lời vị guru hiền trí, tự tại của mình đã dạy.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक निपात (particle meaning 'then/now')

• दूतम्: messenger
• दूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• समाहूय: having summoned
• समाहूय: Kriya (क्रिया; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया; ‘समाहूय’ = having summoned/called together

• घस्मर-अभिधम्: named ‘Ghasmara’
• घस्मर-अभिधम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घस्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नाम-विशेषण: ‘घस्मर’ इति अभिधा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दूतम् इति विशेषण

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दूतम् इति विशेषण

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वम्’ = everything (as object)

• शशंस: told / related
• शशंस: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चरितम्: the account/deed
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (प्रातिपदिक; √चर् से निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चरितम्’ = conduct/story (object, apposition to सर्वम्)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म; relative object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘आह’ इति लिट्-रूप)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गुरुः: the teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मवान्: self-possessed
• आत्मवान्: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुरुः इति विशेषण; ‘आत्मवान्’ = self-possessed/wise

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Ghasmara
• Guru

FAQs

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

It highlights guru-vākya (the authority of the teacher’s word) and disciplined communication—acting without ego, faithfully conveying what is true, which aligns the individual will with dharma under Śiva’s cosmic order.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Śiva-oriented devotion by emphasizing obedience, humility, and right conduct—qualities essential for ritual worship and for receiving Śiva’s grace through proper guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship or japa after receiving and following guru-instruction—e.g., steady Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined speech (satya) and composure (ātma-vaśyatā).