Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

देवशरणागति-नारदप्रेषणम् | The Devas Take Refuge in Śiva; Nārada Is Sent

Devanagari script

गतरागोऽपि हि यया मदनारिस्स्वलीलया । निजतंत्रोऽपि यतस्स स्वात्म वशगः कृतः

Transliteration

gatarāgo'pi hi yayā madanārissvalīlayā | nijataṃtro'pi yatassa svātma vaśagaḥ kṛtaḥ

Translation

因她——借由“伐迦摩者”湿婆（Śiva）不费力的神圣戏游——即便已离欲者，也再度被牵回自我之网；即便自立自持者，也因那力量而受内在驱迫所制。

Word by Word

• गत-रागः: free from passion
• गत-रागः: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; गम् धातु) + राग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ('one whose passion has gone')

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = 'even/also' particle

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• यया: by whom
• यया: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; relative pronoun instrumental

• मदन-अरिः: the enemy of Madana (Śiva)
• मदन-अरिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('enemy of Madana' = Śiva)

• स्व-लीलया: by (his) own sport
• स्व-लीलया: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('by his own play/sport')

• निज-तन्त्रः: independent
• निज-तन्त्रः: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ('self-governed/independent')

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle (even)

• यतः: from whom; because of whom
• यतः: अपादान (Apādāna/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; relative pronoun ('from whom/wherefrom'); input 'यतस्स' → 'यतः सः'

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• स्व-आत्म-वशगः: subjugated; under control
• स्व-आत्म-वशगः: विशेषण (Adjectival complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वशग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ('brought under control of oneself/one’s own self')

• कृतः: was made
• कृतः: क्रिया (Passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ('was made')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches discernment (viveka) during pilgrimage: fascination and inner compulsion are forms of pāśa; liberation requires Śiva’s anugraha beyond mere external austerity.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Madana (Kamadeva)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that individual mastery—whether passionlessness (vairāgya) or self-rule—can still be overruled by the Lord’s līlā and higher power, pointing the seeker toward humility and reliance on Śiva’s grace (anugraha) rather than egoic control.

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

By highlighting Śiva as Madanāri acting through līlā, it supports Saguna worship: the devotee approaches the manifest Lord (as Liṅga and personal deity) to seek steadiness of mind and liberation, recognizing that ultimate transformation comes through Śiva’s will and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is surrender-based japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with steadiness (dhyāna) on Śiva as Madanāri, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to transcend passion and egoic independence.