Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

गर्जंतश्चाथ मुचंतस्तोयानीषच्छिवेच्छया । फेलुर्व्योम्नि मुनिश्रेष्ठ तोयदास्ते कदारवाः

Transliteration

garjaṃtaścātha mucaṃtastoyānīṣacchivecchayā | phelurvyomni muniśreṣṭha toyadāste kadāravāḥ

Translation

于是，圣贤中最高贵的人啊，雨云雷鸣，却只降下少许水分，仿佛受制于湿婆的旨意；那些云朵在天空中漂浮散开，发出粗厉而凶兆的轰鸣。

Word by Word

• गर्जन्तः: roaring
• गर्जन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (Conjunction)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (Particle: then/now)

• मुचन्तः: releasing/pouring forth
• मुचन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तोयानि: waters
• तोयानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ईषत्: slightly
• ईषत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईषत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, परिमाण/अल्पत्वबोधक (Adverb: slightly)

• शिवेच्छया: by Śiva’s will/desire
• शिवेच्छया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवेच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); समास: शिव + इच्छा (तत्पुरुष)

• फेलुः: they spread/expanded
• फेलुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: फल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); परस्मैपद

• व्योम्नि: in the sky
• व्योम्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनिश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; समास: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (तत्पुरुष)

• तोयदाः: rain-clouds (water-givers)
• तोयदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समास: तोय + द (तत्पुरुष, ‘water-giver’)

• ते: they/those
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Vedic/epic variant for ‘ते’ = ‘they/those’)

• कदारवाः: having harsh/rumbling sound
• कदारवाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदारव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective) of ‘तोयदाः/ते’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: incipient pralaya restrained by Śiva-icchā (divine will)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents nature as operating under Śiva’s icchā (divine will): even thunder and rain are not autonomous, reminding the devotee to surrender fear and ego to Pati (the Lord) who governs all.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva as Īśvara who actively orders the cosmos; Linga-worship trains the mind to see all phenomena—like clouds, thunder, and rain—as expressions governed by Śiva, not mere chance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhāva of śaraṇāgati (refuge), and offer water to the Śiva-liṅga, contemplating that all waters and all forces return to Śiva’s command.