Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

तन्निशम्य ततो दैत्यो रोषात्प्रस्फुरिताधरः । उद्योगमकरोत्तूर्णं सर्वदेवजिगीषया

Transliteration

tanniśamya tato daityo roṣātprasphuritādharaḥ | udyogamakarottūrṇaṃ sarvadevajigīṣayā

Translation

Nghe vậy, ác ma—môi run lên vì giận dữ—lập tức bắt tay vào chuẩn bị, bị thúc đẩy bởi khát vọng chinh phục hết thảy chư thiên.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (message)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; object of 'निशम्य'

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-शम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), 'having heard/learnt'

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अपादानार्थ (then/thereupon)

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रोषात्: from anger; out of wrath
• रोषात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/अपादान (ablative), एकवचन; कारणार्थ

• प्रस्फुरित-अधरः: with quivering lips
• प्रस्फुरित-अधरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रस्फुरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्फुर् धातु) + अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अधरः प्रस्फुरितः यस्य = 'with quivering lip' (descriptive)

• उद्योगम्: preparation/effort
• उद्योगम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• अकरोत्: made; undertook
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तूर्णम्: quickly
• तूर्णम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• सर्व-देव-जिगीषया: with the desire to conquer all the gods
• सर्व-देव-जिगीषया: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + जिगीषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया/करण (instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वान् देवान् जेतुम् इच्छा = 'with the desire to conquer all gods'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays the asuric impulse—wrath turning into urgent action aimed at domination. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such krodha strengthens pāśa (bondage) and drives the soul outward into conflict rather than inward toward Shiva-centered discipline and liberation.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it functions as a contrast: the daitya seeks victory over devas, while the devotee approaches Saguna Shiva (Linga-worship) to subdue inner enemies like anger and ego, aligning will and action with dharma and Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is anger-restraint through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and mindful breath before action—transforming impulsive krodha into Shiva-oriented steadiness (śānti) and right effort.