Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

वृन्दायाः दुष्स्वप्न-दर्शनं तथा पातिव्रत्य-भङ्गोपक्रमः / Vṛndā’s Ominous Dreams and the Prelude to the Breach of Chastity

Devanagari script

भ्रमती सा ततो बाला ददर्शातीव भीषणौ । राक्षसौ सिंहवदनौ दृष्ट्वा दशनभासुरौ

Transliteration

bhramatī sā tato bālā dadarśātīva bhīṣaṇau | rākṣasau siṃhavadanau dṛṣṭvā daśanabhāsurau

Translation

随后，那少女徘徊之际，看见两位极其可怖的罗刹——狮面獠牙，牙齿凶光闪烁。见到他们，她因其骇人的形貌而惊惧战栗。

Word by Word

• भ्रमती: wandering, moving about
• भ्रमती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)

• बाला: the girl
• बाला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अतीव: very, exceedingly
• अतीव: Visheshana (विशेषण/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (Intensifying adverb)

• भीषणौ: terrifying (two)
• भीषणौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• राक्षसौ: two demons
• राक्षसौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• सिंहवदनौ: lion-faced (two)
• सिंहवदनौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive tatpuruṣa: 'lion-face'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• दशनभासुरौ: with gleaming teeth (two)
• दशनभासुरौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन (प्रातिपदिक) + भासुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive tatpuruṣa: 'shining with teeth'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Rākṣasas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the condition of the jīva when confronted by भय (fear) and adharma symbolized by rākṣasas; in Shaiva thought, such fear becomes the doorway to śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva), the protector who cuts the bonds of distress.

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

In the Purāṇic narrative style, terrifying forces often precede divine intervention; remembering Saguna Shiva through Linga-worship is taught as a practical refuge—turning the mind from panic to steady devotion (bhakti) and trust in Shiva’s guardianship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is to stabilize the mind in fear by japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, where appropriate, simple Shiva-protective observances like applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining inward remembrance (smaraṇa) of Shiva as Abhaya-prada (giver of fearlessness).