Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

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

Devanagari script

तदाकर्ण्यामहत्यंतमनिंदंतं मुहुर्मुहुः । भृग्वादीनपि विप्रांश्च वेदसृट् शिव तत्त्ववित्

Transliteration

tadākarṇyāmahatyaṃtamaniṃdaṃtaṃ muhurmuhuḥ | bhṛgvādīnapi viprāṃśca vedasṛṭ śiva tattvavit

Translation

他一再听到那沉重的诽谤之言，生于吠陀的主——梵天，洞知湿婆真谛者，屡屡加以斥责；并且连以婆利古为首的婆罗门圣贤也一并训诫。

Word by Word

• तत्: that (speech/act)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adverbially = 'that/it'

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kṛṇ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having heard'

• अमहत्यम्: not great / improper
• अमहत्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-mahatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; negative adjective qualifying 'tat'

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun referring to Nandin

• निन्दन्तम्: reviling / censuring
• निन्दन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nind (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying 'tam'

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय), repetition for emphasis

• भृगु-आदीन्: Bhrigu and others
• भृगु-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛgu + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष (आदि-समास) = 'Bhrigu and others'

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) = 'also/even'

• विप्रान्: brahmins
• विप्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय)

• वेद-सृट्: the creator of the Veda
• वेद-सृट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda + √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agent-noun 'creator/producer of the Veda'

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• तत्त्व-वित्: knower of truth
• तत्त्व-वित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva + √vid (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'knower of reality/principle'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Brahmā, as Veda-sṛj (source of Vedic revelation), condemns repeated nindā of Śiva; the episode frames the Purāṇic teaching that true Vedic intent culminates in recognizing Śiva-tattva.

Significance: Merit of śiva-nindā-parihāra: avoiding slander and honoring Śiva as the inner meaning of Veda; cultivates sattva and receptivity to grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhrigu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that slander of Śiva (śiva-nindā) is a grave fault; even learned sages can fall if pride overrides devotion. True wisdom is to recognize Śiva-tattva and restrain speech in reverence to the Supreme Pati.

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

Linga-worship embodies honoring Śiva’s presence beyond ego and sectarian pride. This verse reinforces that devotion to Saguna Śiva (and respect for His symbols like the Liṅga) must be protected from nindā, because contempt blocks grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech): avoid criticism of Śiva, His Liṅga, and devotees; instead repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with humility, optionally while applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma as a reminder of Śiva-tattva.