Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

शिवविहारवर्णनम् (Śivavihāra-varṇana) — “Description of Śiva’s Divine Pastimes/Sojourn”

Devanagari script

रंभायुक्तं शक्रमिमं चकार विरतं रतौ । महामुनीन्द्रो दुर्वासास्तत्स्त्रीभेदो बभूव ह

Transliteration

raṃbhāyuktaṃ śakramimaṃ cakāra virataṃ ratau | mahāmunīndro durvāsāstatstrībhedo babhūva ha

Translation

大圣者杜尔瓦萨（Durvāsā）使此因陀罗（Indra）——纵有兰婆（Rambhā）相伴——亦止息于欲乐；于是，那对伴侣果然发生了离别。

Word by Word

• रम्भायुक्तम्: accompanied by Rambhā
• रम्भायुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्भा-युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; रम्भा + युक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (रम्भया युक्तम्/रम्भायाः युक्तम्)

• शक्रम्: Indra (Śakra)
• शक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम विशेषण

• चकार: made, caused
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विरतम्: restrained, desisting
• विरतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरत (प्रातिपदिक; वि-√रम्/√रम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म-विशेषण

• रतौ: in sexual pleasure/love
• रतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• महामुनीन्द्रः: the great sage-lord
• महामुनीन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-मुनि-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (महान् मुनिः एव इन्द्रः/मुनिनाम् इन्द्रः)

• दुर्वासाः: Durvāsā
• दुर्वासाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to that event)

• स्त्रीभेदः: separation from (his) wife / woman-separation
• स्त्रीभेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री-भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्त्रियाः भेदः)

• बभूव: happened, came to be
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ascetic tapas as a cosmic force capable of restraining even deva-desire

Characters & Entities

• Durvasa
• Indra
• Rambha

FAQs

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

It highlights that unchecked kāma (desire) disturbs dharma and inner steadiness, while restraint (saṃyama) supports tapas and spiritual progress—an ethic aligned with Shaiva discipline for purifying the mind toward Shiva-realization.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly linked with purity, sense-restraint, and vow-based living; this verse reinforces that mastery over rati (sensual indulgence) stabilizes the devotee for focused pūjā, japa, and devotion to Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a vrata of moderation or brahmacarya for a period, support it with daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Shiva pūjā with mental restraint and steady breath to reduce agitation from desire.