Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59

व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्तो रोषताम्राक्षो वेदमर्यादपालकः । विरराम महावीरं कालारिस्सकलेश्वरः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityukto roṣatāmrākṣo vedamaryādapālakaḥ | virarāma mahāvīraṃ kālārissakaleśvaraḥ

Translation

梵天说道：如此被劝告后，那位大勇士——双目因忿怒而赤红——却仍为吠陀法度的守护者、万有之主、迦罗（死神）之敌，遂收敛退去，止息不行。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: (he) having been told/addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः ‘having been addressed/said to’

• रोष-ताम्र-अक्षः: one whose eyes were reddened by anger
• रोष-ताम्र-अक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोष + ताम्र + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘whose eyes are copper-red due to anger’

• वेद-मर्यादा-पालकः: protector of the Vedic order/limits
• वेद-मर्यादा-पालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + मर्यादा + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘वेदस्य मर्यादायाः पालकः’

• विरराम: ceased/stopped
• विरराम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महावीरम्: the great hero
• महावीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् वीरः’

• काल-अरिः: the foe of Death (Śiva)
• काल-अरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘कालस्य अरिः’ (enemy of Time/Death)

• सकल-ईश्वरः: lord of all
• सकल-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘सकलानां ईश्वरः’ (lord of all)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Narrative pivot: after the outbreak of wrath, the Lord ‘desists’—a controlled withdrawal that prevents total annihilation and prepares for restoration and eventual reconciliation.

Significance: Models the Śaiva ideal of īśvara-niyama: even in wrath, the Lord is the upholder of veda-maryādā and cosmic balance; devotees learn restraint and dharma-guided power.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s sovereignty over time and death (Kālārī) together with His commitment to dharma—true lordship is shown not only in power but also in restraint aligned with cosmic order.

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

The verse points to Saguna Shiva as the personal Lord who governs the universe (sakaleśvara) and protects sacred order; Linga-worship venerates this very Lord as the stable axis of dharma and grace beyond destructive impulse.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize Shiva’s mastery over anger and fear of death, and cultivate self-restraint as a form of devotion aligned with Vedic dharma.