Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

शिवानुकम्पा, ब्रह्मणो निर्भयत्वं च (Śiva’s Compassion and Brahmā’s Fearlessness)

Devanagari script

एतच्च तव वीर्य्यं हि पतितं वेदिमध्यगम् । कामार्तस्य मया दृष्टं नैतद्धार्यं भविष्यति

Transliteration

etacca tava vīryyaṃ hi patitaṃ vedimadhyagam | kāmārtasya mayā dṛṣṭaṃ naitaddhāryaṃ bhaviṣyati

Translation

“你这精力之种已坠落在祭坛中央。我亲眼见到它，乃由欲念所起；此物将不堪承持、亦难留存。”

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वीर्यम्: semen; potency
• वीर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), अवधारण/कारणार्थ (indeed/for)

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: patita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √pat)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• वेदि-मध्य-गम्: gone into the middle of the altar
• वेदि-मध्य-गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vedi + madhya + ga (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √gam)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (locative-tatpuruṣa sense): वेद्याः मध्ये गतम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त (गम्-प्रत्ययान्त)

• काम-आर्तस्य: of one afflicted by desire
• काम-आर्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + ārta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: कामेन आर्तः (afflicted by desire); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्टम्: seen
• दृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dṛś)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध (negation particle)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धार्यम्: bearable/acceptable
• धार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhārya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √dhṛ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्यय (gerundive/future passive participle) = 'to be borne/acceptable'

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

Speaker

Parvati (Sati in narrative context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that uncontrolled desire (kāma) becomes a burden, while Shiva’s potency is sacred and must be approached through purity, restraint, and dharmic order—pointing toward sublimation of passion into tapas and bhakti.

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

The verse uses altar imagery to stress sanctity and containment of divine power; in Shaiva practice this aligns with honoring Shiva as Saguna through the Linga—where energy is ritually “held” and revered via consecration, mantra, and proper worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is discipline of senses through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regulated worship (puja/abhisheka), supported by purity observances—rather than acting from kāma.