Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

कैलासगमनं कुबेरसख्यं च — Śiva’s Journey to Kailāsa and His Friendship with Kubera

Devanagari script

स्मृत्याचारविहीनस्तु गीतवाद्यविनोदभाक् । नटपाखंडभाण्डैस्तु बद्धप्रेमपरंपरः

Transliteration

smṛtyācāravihīnastu gītavādyavinodabhāk | naṭapākhaṃḍabhāṇḍaistu baddhapremaparaṃparaḥ

Translation

他既无《忆念经》(Smṛti)所教之戒律，亦失正行，却沉迷于歌舞与乐器之娱；又因戏子、伪善的江湖术士与丑角之辈，而被日益增长的世间执著之链所缠缚。

Word by Word

• स्मृति-आचार-विहीनः: devoid of tradition and proper conduct
• स्मृति-आचार-विहीनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + विहीन (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: स्मृत्या च आचारेण च विहीनः (instrumental-relation implied)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/विरोधार्थक (particle, adversative/emphatic)

• गीत-वाद्य-विनोद-भाक्: one who indulges in amusements of singing and instruments
• गीत-वाद्य-विनोद-भाक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विनोद (प्रातिपदिक) + भज् (धातु) → भाक् (कृदन्त, क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः: भाक् (possessor/enjoyer) = भज् धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः: गीतवाद्यविनोदस्य भाक्

• नट-पाखण्ड-भाण्डैः: by actors, hypocrites, and buffoons
• नट-पाखण्ड-भाण्डैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नट (प्रातिपदिक) + पाखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः: नटाश्च पाखण्डाश्च भाण्डाश्च (समाहार-द्वन्द्व)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• बद्ध-प्रेम-परम्परः: having a chain/series of attachment (love) bound (to them)
• बद्ध-प्रेम-परम्परः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; बन्ध् धातु) + प्रेम (प्रातिपदिक) + परम्परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः: बद्धा प्रेमपरम्परा यस्य (अर्थतः बहुव्रीहिवत्, परन्तु रूपतः तत्पुरुष-समासप्रायः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that neglecting dharma (smṛti-ācāra) and chasing sensory entertainment strengthens pasha—bondage through attachment—obscuring devotion and delaying liberation under Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship requires inner and outer discipline—purity, restraint, and right conduct. The verse contrasts such sādhana with distraction and hypocrisy that pull the mind away from steady Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint and replace diversion with Shiva-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī), along with simple daily observances like applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma and maintaining a devotional routine.