Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 45

Niṣādasya Bhillasya Itihāsaḥ — Śivarātri-vrata-prabhāvaḥ

The Hunter’s Account and the Efficacy of the Śivarātri Observance

Devanagari script

परिणीता स्त्रियं हित्वा गच्छत्यन्यां च यः पुमान् । वेदधर्मं समुल्लंघ्य कल्पितेन च यो व्रजेत्

Transliteration

pariṇītā striyaṃ hitvā gacchatyanyāṃ ca yaḥ pumān | vedadharmaṃ samullaṃghya kalpitena ca yo vrajet

Translation

凡男子弃离依法迎娶之妻而趋向他女，又逾越吠陀所立之达摩，随自造之见而行者，便偏离所定正道，堕入非达摩（adharma）。

Word by Word

• pariṇītām: (a) married (wife)
• pariṇītām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pariṇītā (कृदन्त/PPP from √nī ‘नी’ with pari- upasarga)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (singular); past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally qualifying ‘striyam’

• striyam: woman; wife
• striyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana

• hitvā: having abandoned
• hitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (धाातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having abandoned’

• gacchati: goes
• gacchati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथम), Ekavacana

• anyām: another (woman)
• anyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (f.), Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; pronoun/adjective used substantively ‘another (woman)’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• pumān: a man
• pumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana

• vedadharmam: Vedic duty/law
• vedadharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + dharma (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘vedasya dharmaḥ’ → ‘vedadharmaḥ’

• samullaṅghya: having transgressed
• samullaṅghya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ud + √laṅgh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having transgressed/overstepped’

• kalpitena: by a contrived (means); by an invented (pretext)
• kalpitena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpita (कृदन्त/PPP from √kḷp ‘कॢप्’)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (n.) or Puṃliṅga (m.) instrumental singular; here Instrumental (तृतीया) Ekavacana; PPP used substantively ‘by/with something contrived/imagined’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (m.), Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; relative pronoun (introducing second clause)

• vrajet: should go; would go
• vrajet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative/विधिलिङ्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it is a dharma-śāstric admonition within Purāṇic narration: marital fidelity and Veda-grounded conduct are presented as safeguards against karmic bondage.

Significance: Frames ethical discipline (niyama) as integral to Śiva-bhakti; adharma in household life undermines spiritual progress and merit.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that ethical restraint and adherence to Vedic dharma are foundations for Shaiva sadhana; violating marital duty and acting on self-invented “rules” strengthens pasha (bondage) and obstructs grace and liberation.

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

Linga-worship is not merely external ritual; Saguna Shiva is pleased by purity of conduct and dharmic living. This verse frames worship as effective when supported by self-control and fidelity, aligning the devotee’s life with Shiva’s order (ṛta/dharma).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is purification through dharmic vows and disciplined worship—regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), wearing rudraksha and applying tripundra with sincerity—while avoiding conduct that breaks Vedic restraints.