Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

पूर्वगतिवर्णनम् (Pūrvagati-varṇana) — “Description of the Prior Course / Earlier Lineage Account”

Devanagari script

विना विपत्तिं महिमा केषां कुत्र भविष्यति । सुकर्मिणां गते दुःखे प्रभवेद्दुर्लभं सुखम्

Transliteration

vinā vipattiṃ mahimā keṣāṃ kutra bhaviṣyati | sukarmiṇāṃ gate duḥkhe prabhaveddurlabhaṃ sukham

Translation

若无逆境，伟大之光荣将于何处、为谁而生？当行善守正之人之忧苦既已消散，稀有而来之不易的安乐便随之显现。

Word by Word

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय/पूर्वपद (preposition-like indeclinable: ‘without’), पञ्चम्यर्थे

• विपत्तिम्: misfortune/adversity
• विपत्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘विना’ योगे द्वितीया (object of ‘without’)

• महिमा: greatness/glory
• महिमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• केषाम्: of whom
• केषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-षष्ठी (of whom)

• कुत्र: where
• कुत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: where)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सुकर्मिणाम्: of the doers of good deeds
• सुकर्मिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + कर्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सुकर्मा कर्मी)

• गते: when (it) has gone / after (it) has passed
• गते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute): ‘when/after ... has gone’

• दुःखे: in/with suffering; (when) suffering
• दुःखे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) सहपद

• प्रभवेत्: may arise / would arise
• प्रभवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दुर्लभम्: rare, hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सुखम्)

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्ता/कर्म (context: ‘rare happiness arises’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A gnomic reflection rather than a site-legend: adversity (vipatti) is presented as the crucible through which dharmic greatness and rare happiness emerge.

Significance: Ethical-spiritual instruction: endure suffering as karmic exhaustion; it becomes a doorway to steadiness and eventual grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that hardship is not meaningless: it becomes the field where virtue, tapas, and inner greatness mature; when suffering is exhausted through dharma, a rare peace and joy arises—supporting the Shaiva view that purification precedes grace.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee meets trials by steady pūjā and remembrance of Shiva as compassionate Lord; adversity becomes an offering at the Linga, and the resulting purity makes the heart fit to receive Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with disciplined conduct; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a calm, patient mindset during difficulties, treating suffering as tapas dedicated to Shiva.