Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

शङ्खचूडवधकथनम् / The Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Slaying

Devanagari script

दानवो दंभनामा हि मद्भक्तः कुरुते तपः । पुत्रार्थी शमयिष्यामि तमहं वरदानतः

Transliteration

dānavo daṃbhanāmā hi madbhaktaḥ kurute tapaḥ | putrārthī śamayiṣyāmi tamahaṃ varadānataḥ

Translation

“有一位名为檀婆（Dambha）的达那婆，确是我的奉信者，正在修行苦行。他求得一子；我将以赐福之恩使他心愿满足。”

Word by Word

• दानवः: a demon
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता) (कुरुते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दंभ-नामā: named Dambha
• दंभ-नामā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभ (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (दंभः नाम यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; दानवः इति विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (indeed/for)

• मत्-भक्तः: my devotee
• मत्-भक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मम भक्तः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; दानवः इति विशेषण

• कुरुते: does, performs
• कुरुते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म) (कुरुते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुत्र-अर्थी: desiring a son
• पुत्र-अर्थी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुत्रस्य अर्थी = desiring a son); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; दानवः इति विशेषण

• शमयिष्यामि: I will pacify/appease
• शमयिष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम् (धातु) (णिच् causative: शमय)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म) (शमयिष्यामि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता) (शमयिष्यामि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वर-दानतः: due to the granting of a boon
• वर-दानतः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वरस्य दानम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेतौ (because of/from the granting of a boon)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it introduces Dambha’s tapas and the Lord’s intention to grant a boon, setting up later conflict-resolution in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dambha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s impartial grace: even a Dānava can become worthy through bhakti and tapas, showing that devotion (not birth) makes one fit for Shiva’s anugraha (divine favor).

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

Shiva appears here as Saguna—an accessible, personal Lord who responds to a devotee’s austerity with a boon. This aligns with Linga-worship where the devotee approaches Shiva as the compassionate Varada who grants worldly aims and ultimately guides toward higher good.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadfast tapas supported by bhakti—regular japa of Shiva’s name (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined worship, performed with sincerity to seek Shiva’s grace.