Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

नित्यं तेष्वणवो बद्धास्सृष्टक्रोधभयादयः । प्रभावाच्च भवानंगान्यनेकानीह लीलया

Transliteration

nityaṃ teṣvaṇavo baddhāssṛṣṭakrodhabhayādayaḥ | prabhāvācca bhavānaṃgānyanekānīha līlayā

Translation

于其中，诸阿ṇu（微细灵魂）恒被系缚——为所造之缚，如嗔怒与恐惧等。又凭汝自身威力，主啊，汝于此显现无数肢分与形相，唯作神圣之戏（līlā）。

Word by Word

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-कालय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया प्रयोगः; अव्ययीभाववत् (adverbial use: always)

• तेषु: in them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, बहुवचन, सप्तमी (Locative)

• अणवः: souls/atoms (aṇus)
• अणवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अणु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• बद्धाः: bound
• बद्धाः: Kriya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; ‘bound’

• सृष्टक्रोधभयादयः: created anger, fear, etc.
• सृष्टक्रोधभयादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्ट (सृज्-धातुज कृदन्त) + क्रोध + भय + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ (क्रोधश्च भयश्च आदयश्च; सृष्टाः)

• प्रभावात्: from (your) power/effect
• प्रभावात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी (Ablative); हेत्वर्थ (because of)

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

• भवान्: you (honorific)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम/आदरार्थ-प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• अङ्गानि: limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative)

• अनेकानि: many
• अनेकानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, द्वितीया; विशेषण

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here)

• लीलया: playfully/as a sport
• लीलया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental); प्रकार/उपायार्थ (by way of play)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ensoulment of embodied beings and operation of mala/kleśas within sṛṣṭi

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states the Shaiva Siddhanta core: the aṇu (individual soul) remains bound by pāśas—here exemplified as anger and fear—until liberated by the Lord’s grace; Shiva’s many manifestations operate as compassionate līlā within creation.

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

Because Shiva freely assumes many ‘limbs/forms’ in līlā, Saguna worship—especially the Śiva-liṅga—becomes a valid, accessible focus for devotion that purifies the mind and loosens the fetters like krodha and bhaya.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa and inner restraint: repeat the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady breath and cultivate fearlessness and non-anger; such sādhana supports the cutting of pāśas and prepares one for Shiva’s grace.