Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

दधीचाश्रमगमनम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and Dadhīca’s Fearlessness

Kṣu’s Request

Devanagari script

ते चापि युयुधुस्तत्र वीरा विष्णुगणास्ततः । मुनिनैकेन देवर्षे दधीचेन शिवात्मना

Transliteration

te cāpi yuyudhustatra vīrā viṣṇugaṇāstataḥ | muninaikena devarṣe dadhīcena śivātmanā

Translation

在那里，毗湿奴的勇健随众亦投入战斗；然而他们却被一位独自的圣者所抗衡——天仙圣者达提奇（Dadhīci），其自性安住于湿婆之中。

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• युयुधुः: fought
• युयुधुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• वीराः: heroes/warriors
• वीराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• विष्णुगणाः: Viṣṇu’s hosts
• विष्णुगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः गणाः)

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (adverb: from there/then)

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• एकेन: one (single)
• एकेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; मुनिना इति विशेषण

• देवर्षे: O divine sage
• देवर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (देवानां ऋषिः)

• दधीचेन: by Dadhīci
• दधीचेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• शिवात्मना: of Śiva-natured / having Śiva as self
• शिवात्मना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आत्मा यस्य/शिवात्मा) — here used adjectivally with दधीचेन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dadhichi
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal that true spiritual power arises from being inwardly established in Śiva (shivātmā), where steadfast devotion and realization can outweigh mere numbers or external might.

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

Calling Dadhīci “Śiva-souled” points to Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord whose grace makes a devotee fearless and spiritually radiant—an attitude cultivated through Linga-upāsanā and remembrance of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate shiva-bhāva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna on Śiva, so the mind becomes ‘Śiva-souled’ amid conflict and distraction.