Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

अनरण्य-वंशवर्णनम् तथा पिप्पलादस्य कामोत्पत्तिः

Genealogy of King Anaraṇya and Pippalāda’s arousal of desire

Devanagari script

शोकाकुलाश्च महिषीर्नृपबालांश्च कन्यकाम् । उत्तमा नीतिमादृत्य सर्वेषां हितकारिणीम्

Transliteration

śokākulāśca mahiṣīrnṛpabālāṃśca kanyakām | uttamā nītimādṛtya sarveṣāṃ hitakāriṇīm

Translation

诸王后、王子们与那位少女都被悲痛所淹没；然而乌塔玛秉持至高的明智法度，为众人之福祉而行。

Word by Word

• śoka-ākulāḥ: grief-stricken
• śoka-ākulāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śoka (प्रातिपदिक) + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (śokena ākulāḥ = grief-stricken)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• mahiṣīḥ: queens
• mahiṣīḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• nṛpa-bālān: the king's children (boys)
• nṛpa-bālān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक) + bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (nṛpasya bālāḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• kanyakām: the maiden/daughter
• kanyakām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• uttamā: the excellent (lady)
• uttamā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• nītim: policy/right conduct
• nītim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• ādṛtya: having adopted/respected
• ādṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund/absolutive), ‘आदृत्य’ = having respected/after adopting

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे (सामान्य-प्रयोगः), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचनम्

• hita-kāriṇīm: beneficial (doer of good)
• hita-kāriṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + kāriṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः (hitaṃ karoti yā)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages, inferred from Purāṇic frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma-centered nīti: even amid sorrow, one should stabilize the mind and act for the welfare of others—an attitude aligned with Shaiva purity of conduct (śuddhācāra) that supports inner steadiness on the path toward grace.

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

Saguna Shiva worship is not only ritual but also ethical embodiment; acting as hitakāriṇī (benefactor of all) expresses devotion through conduct, which the Purāṇas treat as a living offering to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse chiefly teaches disciplined conduct; as a practical takeaway, one may steady grief through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and then act in ways that protect and benefit others.