Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

काम-शक्र-संवादः / Dialogue of Kāma and Śakra

Indra

Devanagari script

तेन संपीड्यते लोको नष्टा धर्मा ह्यनेकशः । दुःखिता निर्जरास्सर्वे ऋषयश्च तथाखिलाः

Transliteration

tena saṃpīḍyate loko naṣṭā dharmā hyanekaśaḥ | duḥkhitā nirjarāssarve ṛṣayaśca tathākhilāḥ

Translation

因他之故，世间备受沉重压迫；正法（达摩）多方毁坏。诸天皆忧苦，一切仙圣诸牟尼亦无一幸免。

Word by Word

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃpīḍyate: is oppressed
• saṃpīḍyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pīḍ (धातु) + sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Present (लट्), Passive (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• lokaḥ: the world/people
• lokaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• naṣṭāḥ: have perished/are destroyed
• naṣṭāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); predicative with ‘dharmāḥ’

• dharmāḥ: duties/righteousnesses
• dharmāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय; हेतौ/निश्चयार्थ)

• anekaśaḥ: in many ways
• anekaśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक) + śas (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय; -शस् प्रत्यय), ‘in many ways/many times’

• duḥkhitāḥ: afflicted/sorrowful
• duḥkhitāḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with ‘nirjarāḥ’

• nirjarāḥ: the gods (immortals)
• nirjarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with ‘nirjarāḥ’

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय; तथार्थक)

• akhilāḥ: all, entire
• akhilāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with ‘ṛṣayaḥ’ (and others implied)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Devas (Nirjaras)
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It highlights a classic Purāṇic sign of adharma: when oppressive forces crush the world, even devas and ṛṣis become distressed. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, this points to the need for Pati (Śiva) to re-establish dharma and loosen the bonds (pāśa) that cause collective suffering.

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

When dharma collapses and beings are afflicted, the tradition turns to Saguna Śiva—worshipped as the Liṅga and as the compassionate Lord who intervenes in history—to restore order and grant protection (rakṣā) and grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to intensify Śiva-upāsanā in times of turmoil—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness, protection, and dharma-oriented living.