Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

येनेदं पाल्यते विश्वं सृष्टमंते विनाशितम् । शप्तोयं स कथं रुद्रो महेशो ब्राह्मणाधम

Transliteration

yenedaṃ pālyate viśvaṃ sṛṣṭamaṃte vināśitam | śaptoyaṃ sa kathaṃ rudro maheśo brāhmaṇādhama

Translation

“维系此一宇宙者，且于终末消融所造者——那位鲁陀罗、那位摩诃提婆，怎可能真被‘诅咒’？卑劣的婆罗门啊！”

Word by Word

• yena: by whom
• yena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग सर्वनाम

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

• pālyate: is protected/maintained
• pālyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāl (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• viśvam: the universe
• viśvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (object of implied ‘protects’)

• sṛṣṭam: created
• sṛṣṭam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sṛj (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with viśvam)

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vināśitam: destroyed
• vināśitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-naś (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with viśvam)

• śaptaḥ: cursed
• śaptaḥ: Karma (कर्म) / Bhāva (भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śap (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन, सर्वनाम

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन, सर्वनाम

• katham: how?
• katham: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• maheśaḥ: Maheśa (Great Lord)
• maheśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् ईशः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brāhmaṇa-adhama: O lowest of brāhmaṇas
• brāhmaṇa-adhama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (ब्राह्मणेषु अधमः), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Speaker

Satī (addressing Dakṣa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Doctrinally anchors Śiva as the agent of sthiti and saṃhāra; pilgrimage and ritual are meaningful insofar as they align with the cosmic Lord who sustains and dissolves.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-anta dissolution implied (aṃte vināśa)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It asserts Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who sustains and dissolves the cosmos—therefore worldly blame or “curses” cannot truly bind Him; the verse condemns ego and spiritual arrogance.

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

The Linga represents the transcendent Lord who is beyond social status and verbal insult; worship of Saguna Shiva (Rudra/Maheśa) is grounded in recognizing His cosmic sovereignty, not in judging Him through limited ritualistic pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humble bhakti—mentally repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and approach Shiva worship with purity and reverence, avoiding contempt and ego that obstruct devotion.