Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

त्वं चापि भार्यादुःखार्तो वने कपिसहायवान् । भ्रम सर्पेश्वरेणायं यस्ते शिष्यत्वमागतः

Transliteration

tvaṃ cāpi bhāryāduḥkhārto vane kapisahāyavān | bhrama sarpeśvareṇāyaṃ yaste śiṣyatvamāgataḥ

Translation

你也曾因妻子之苦而忧伤，在林中漂泊，以猿猴为助伴。而此人——蛇众之主——已来投你为弟子；因此，你当与他一同在此游行。

Word by Word

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• bhāryā-duḥkha-ārtaḥ: afflicted by (your) wife’s sorrow
• bhāryā-duḥkha-ārtaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + ārta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भार्यायाः दुःखेन आर्तः = afflicted by wife's sorrow); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vane: in the forest
• vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kapi-sahāya-vān: having a monkey as helper
• kapi-sahāya-vān: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + sahāya (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (प्रत्यय; possessive)
• Form: तत्पुरुष + वन्त-प्रत्यय (कपिः सहायकः यस्य सः); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhrama: wander/roam
• bhrama: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhram (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• sarpa-īśvareṇa: with the lord of serpents
• sarpa-īśvareṇa: Sahakāraka (सहकारक; accompaniment/association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सर्पाणाम् ईश्वरः = lord of serpents); Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• ayam: this (one)
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक; relative pronoun)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śiṣyatvam: discipleship
• śiṣyatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (प्रत्यय; abstract noun)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āgataḥ: has come/attained
• āgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) → āgata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, active sense here); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with yaḥ/ayam

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara

Sthala Purana: The epithet ‘Sarpeśvara/Nāgeśvara’ evokes Śiva as lord of serpents; in Jyotirliṅga lore, Nāgeśvara is revered as the protector from poison, fear, and nāga-afflictions, granting śaraṇāgati to devotees.

Significance: Protection from विष (poison), भय (fear), and inner ‘serpent-like’ passions; cultivation of steadfastness and devotion through darśana of Nāgeśvara.

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Hanuman
• Sarpeśvara (Nāgeśvara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even great heroes pass through grief and uncertainty, yet the way forward is guided by dharma and discipleship—accepting guidance with humility and moving ahead with steadfast effort.

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

By invoking a divine epithet like “Sarpeśvara (Nāgeśvara),” the narrative leans toward Saguna devotion—approaching Shiva through named forms and relationships (lord, guide, disciple), which is central to Purāṇic bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is guru-bhakti and steady japa: repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with the intention of surrender and guidance, aligning one’s actions with dharma during times of sorrow.