Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

दक्षयज्ञे सत्या अपमानबोधः — Satī Encounters Disrespect at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

महद्विनिंदा नाश्चर्यं सर्वदाऽसत्सु सेर्ष्यकम् । महदंघ्रिरजो ध्वस्ततमस्सु सैव शोभना

Transliteration

mahadviniṃdā nāścaryaṃ sarvadā'satsu serṣyakam | mahadaṃghrirajo dhvastatamassu saiva śobhanā

Translation

诋毁伟大者并不稀奇——在虚伪与不净之人中，它常与嫉妒相随。然而，对那些因大主圣足之尘而灭尽昏暗者而言，连此境遇也成庄严之饰，只因更显其坚固的虔敬。

Word by Word

• महद्-विनिन्दा: great censure
• महद्-विनिन्दा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महद् (प्रातिपदिक) + विनिन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: 'महती विनिन्दा'; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• आश्चर्यम्: a wonder
• आश्चर्यम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्चर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• असत्सु: among the wicked/untrue (people)
• असत्सु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• स-ईर्ष्यकम्: accompanied by envy
• स-ईर्ष्यकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + ईर्ष्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सह-तत्पुरुष (स-समास): 'ईर्ष्यया सहितम्'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• महद्-अङ्घ्रि-रजः: the dust of the great one's feet
• महद्-अङ्घ्रि-रजः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महद् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (multi-member): 'महतः अङ्घ्रेः रजः'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ध्वस्त-तमःसु: among those in whom darkness has been destroyed
• ध्वस्त-तमःसु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्वंस् (धातु) + ध्वस्त (कृदन्त क्त/PPP) + तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त 'ध्वस्त' + 'तमस्' (as object notion); सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (locative plural: 'in those whose darkness is destroyed')

• सा: that (dust)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• शोभना: beautiful/auspicious
• शोभना: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्/विधेय (predicate adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that criticism of the truly great is common among the envious, but a devotee whose inner darkness is removed by Shiva’s grace remains unshaken; even opposition becomes a cause for greater inner beauty and steadfast bhakti.

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

By pointing to the ‘dust of the Lord’s feet’ as grace that destroys tamas, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through reverence, surrender, and sacred symbols (like the Linga) that anchor the mind in devotion beyond worldly blame.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humility and remembrance of Shiva—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while cultivating surrender at Shiva’s feet; this inner orientation is the ‘dust’ that dispels tamas and envy-driven agitation.