Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

मातुलास्तेऽतुलाः पुत्र विद्याशीलकुलादिभिः । तेभ्योऽपि न बिभेषि त्वं शुद्धोऽस्युभयवंशतः

Transliteration

mātulāste'tulāḥ putra vidyāśīlakulādibhiḥ | tebhyo'pi na bibheṣi tvaṃ śuddho'syubhayavaṃśataḥ

Translation

孩子啊，你的舅父们在学识、品行与高贵门第上皆无与伦比；然而你连他们也不畏惧，因为你本自清净——父系与母系两族皆无玷污。

Word by Word

• mātulāḥ: maternal uncles
• mātulāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• te: they/those
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• atulāḥ: unequalled
• atulāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-tula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (adjective) of mātulāḥ

• putra: O son
• putra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• vidyā-śīla-kula-ādibhiḥ: by learning, conduct, family, and the like
• vidyā-śīla-kula-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक) + śīla (प्रातिपदिक) + kula (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); साधन/हेतु-भाव (by means of/with respect to)

• tebhyaḥ: from them
• tebhyaḥ: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); ‘also/even’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• bibheṣi: you fear
• bibheṣi: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhī (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• śuddhaḥ: pure
• śuddhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• ubhaya-vaṃśataḥ: with respect to both lineages
• ubhaya-vaṃśataḥ: Hetu/Adhikarana (हेतु/अधिकरण—adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिलन्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘from/with respect to’; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (of both lineages)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic dialogue; the verse itself is spoken by an elder addressing a son within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

FAQs

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

It highlights inner purity and dharmic integrity as the true basis of fearlessness—qualities that, in a Shaiva view, mature the soul (paśu) toward the grace of Shiva (Pati) beyond mere social prestige.

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

Linga-worship emphasizes purification of mind and conduct; this verse reinforces that spiritual standing is grounded in śuddhi (purity) and right living, which makes devotion to Saguna Shiva steady and fearless.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily śauca (purity) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and disciplined conduct (śīla) to cultivate the fearlessness praised in the verse.