Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

शङ्खचूडकृततपः—ब्रह्मवरकवचप्राप्तिः / Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Austerity—Brahmā’s Boon and the Bestowal of the Kavaca

Devanagari script

नारीजातिर्मोहिनी च ब्रह्मादीनां विषोपमा । निन्द्या दोषकरी माया शृंखला ह्यनुशायिनाम्

Transliteration

nārījātirmohinī ca brahmādīnāṃ viṣopamā | nindyā doṣakarī māyā śṛṃkhalā hyanuśāyinām

Translation

女性的本质甚至对梵天和其他神灵也具有迷惑性——其效果犹如毒药。它是值得谴责的，是错误的起因；是幻象（māyā）的表现，确实是那些仍受潜伏激情束缚者的枷锁。

Word by Word

• नारीजातिः: the class/species of women
• नारीजातिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी-जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नारीणां जातिः)

• मोहिनी: deluding, enchanting
• मोहिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• ब्रह्मादीनाम्: of Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आदि-शब्देन सह)

• विषोपमा: like poison
• विषोपमा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष-उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विषवत् उपमा/विषसदृशी)

• निन्द्या: blameworthy
• निन्द्या: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निन्द्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्तः—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (to be blamed)

• दोषकरी: causing faults
• दोषकरी: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दोष-करिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (दोषं करोति इति)

• माया: illusion, māyā
• माया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शृंखला: a chain
• शृंखला: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृंखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• अनुशायिनाम्: of those who are attached/ensnared
• अनुशायिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु-शायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; शायिन्-प्रातिपदिक (one who lies/follows)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It warns that māyā can captivate even exalted beings, and that bondage persists through anuśayas (latent cravings). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, liberation comes by turning from delusion (pāśa) toward Pati (Śiva) through discernment and disciplined devotion.

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

The verse functions as a call to detach from sense-driven fascination and to steady the mind in Saguna Śiva worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, and reverence—so consciousness moves from māyā’s pull toward Śiva’s grace and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with restraint of the senses, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of dispassion and Śiva-centered awareness, especially on Mahāśivarātri.