Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

वराङ्ग्याः सुतजन्म-उत्पातवर्णनम् | Birth of Varāṅgī’s Son and the Description of Portents

Utpātas

Devanagari script

सराह्वोस्सूर्य्यविध्वोस्तु मुहुः परिधयोऽभवन् । महाभयस्य विप्रेन्द्र सूचकास्सुखहारकः

Transliteration

sarāhvossūryyavidhvostu muhuḥ paridhayo'bhavan | mahābhayasya viprendra sūcakāssukhahārakaḥ

Translation

噢，最尊贵的婆罗门啊，日轮周围一次又一次现出光环，仿佛被击中而黯淡——这是预示大恐惧的征兆，夺去一切安宁。

Word by Word

• स-राह्वः: accompanied by Rāhu
• स-राह्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (राहुना सहितः = with Rāhu)

• सूर्य-विध्वः: sun-obscuring / sun-destroying
• सूर्य-विध्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विध्वंस/विध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (सूर्यस्य विध्वः/विध्वंसः = destruction/obscuration of the sun)

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

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• परिधयः: halos/circles (around the sun/moon)
• परिधयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अभवन्: arose/were
• अभवन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद; laṅ, 3rd person plural, parasmaipada

• महाभयस्य: of great fear
• महाभयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; neuter, Genitive, Singular; कर्मधारयः (महद् भयम्)

• विप्र-इन्द्र: O best of Brahmins
• विप्र-इन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, Vocative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (विप्राणाम् इन्द्रः)

• सूचकाः: indicators/portents
• सूचकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सुख-हारकः: joy-removing
• सुख-हारकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + हारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः (सुखं हरति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: solar paridhi (halo) repeatedly appearing; sun seeming ‘struck/dimmed’—major fear-omen

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

The verse presents cosmic disturbances as outward signs of an approaching crisis, reminding devotees that worldly stability is fragile and that refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva) alone grants inner fearlessness and peace.

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

When omens indicate ‘mahābhaya’ (great fear), the Purana’s practical response is turning to Saguna Shiva—especially Linga worship—as a stabilizing, protective focus for bhakti that calms the mind and restores auspiciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A fitting takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa, performed to dispel fear and re-establish śānti (peace) when inauspicious signs arise.