Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

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

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

जलंधर उवाच । केनेदं विहितं राहोश्शिरच्छेदनकं प्रभो । तद्ब्रूहि निखिलं वृत्तं यथावत्तत्त्वतो गुरो

Transliteration

jalaṃdhara uvāca | kenedaṃ vihitaṃ rāhośśiracchedanakaṃ prabho | tadbrūhi nikhilaṃ vṛttaṃ yathāvattattvato guro

Translation

Jalandhara nói: “Bạch Chúa tể, ai đã định đoạt việc chém đầu Rāhu như thế? Bạch Thầy, xin kể trọn sự việc, đúng đắn và phù hợp với chân lý, thưa bậc Guru.”

Word by Word

• jalaṃdharaḥ: Jalaṃdhara
• jalaṃdharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaṃdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kena: by whom
• kena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• vihitam: done/ordained
• vihitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vihita (कृदन्त; √dhā धातु with vi-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle)

• rāhoḥ: of Rāhu
• rāhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• śiras-chedanakam: the act/means of beheading
• śiras-chedanakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + chedana (प्रातिपदिक; from √chid धातु) + ka (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ('शिरसः छेदनम्' → 'शिरच्छेदनकं' = शिरच्छेदन-कार्य/कर्म)

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; 'that/it' (object of brūhi)

• brūhi: tell
• brūhi: Kriyā (आज्ञार्थक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• nikhilam: entire
• nikhilam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vṛttam: the occurrence/story
• vṛttam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (कृदन्त; √vṛt धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; 'what happened' (event)

• yathāvat: properly/as it truly is
• yathāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tattvataḥ: in truth / essentially
• tattvataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tattvatas (अव्यय; from tattva)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थक (ablatival adverb)

• guro: O teacher
• guro: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन (वैदिक/काव्ये षष्ठी-एकवचनरूपेणापि दृश्यते; अत्र सम्बोधनार्थः)

Speaker

Jalandhara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Implicit link to eclipse myth via Rāhu’s decapitation; not calendrically specified.

Characters & Entities

• Jalandhara
• Rāhu

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes śravaṇa (reverent listening) and tattva-jijñāsā (seeking truth): even in conflict narratives, the seeker asks for the event “yathāvat” and “tattvataḥ,” pointing to Shaiva insight that divine acts unfold by higher ordinance and lead beings toward right understanding.

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

By addressing the Lord as “Prabho” and “Guro,” the verse reflects Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Teacher who reveals truth; in Linga-worship too, the devotee approaches Shiva as the manifest guide who grants clarity about dharma and cosmic events.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is disciplined listening and inquiry—reciting and hearing Shiva Purana episodes with devotion; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize the mind while contemplating the truth (tattva) behind the narrative.