Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 28

मित्रसह-राज्ञो रक्षत्व-शापकथा — The Curse that Turns King Mitrasaha into a Rakshasa

Vasiṣṭha’s Śāpa Narrative

Devanagari script

स्वपृष्ठतः समायान्तीं ब्रह्महत्यां सुदुःखदाम् । ददर्श विकटाकारां तर्जयन्ती मुहुर्मुहुः

Transliteration

svapṛṣṭhataḥ samāyāntīṃ brahmahatyāṃ suduḥkhadām | dadarśa vikaṭākārāṃ tarjayantī muhurmuhuḥ

Translation

他从身后看见“梵杀罪”（Brahmahatyā）——那带来极大痛苦与哀伤的重罪——步步逼近：形相狰狞可怖，屡屡对他威吓不止。

Word by Word

• स्व: his own
• स्व: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय विशेषण (indeclinable-like adjectival), ‘own’

• पृष्ठतः: from behind
• पृष्ठतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb), ‘from/at the back’

• समायान्तीम्: coming
• समायान्तीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘coming’

• ब्रह्महत्याम्: Brahmin-slaying (sin/personified)
• ब्रह्महत्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः हत्या / ब्रह्महत्यारूपा)

• सुदुःखदाम्: causing great sorrow
• सुदुःखदाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-दुःख-दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुःखं ददाति इति), ‘very pain-giving’

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विकटाकाराम्: of terrifying form
• विकटाकाराम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट-आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (विकटः आकारः यस्याः सा)

• तर्जयन्ती: threatening
• तर्जयन्ती: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘threatening’

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: repeatedly)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (reduplication) for emphasis; कालवाचक अव्यय

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Brahmahatyā

FAQs

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

The verse personifies grave karma (Brahmahatyā) as an inescapable pursuer, teaching that adharma brings inner torment and fear until one seeks purification through Shiva’s grace and right conduct.

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

In the Kotirudra narrative frame, such overwhelming sin and fear are resolved by taking refuge in Saguna Shiva—especially through Jyotirlinga worship—where the Lord becomes accessible as the purifier who cuts the bonds (pāśa) of karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines for purification and steadiness of mind.