Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

शिवस्य आश्वासनं हरि-ब्रह्मणोः तथा शङ्खचूडवृत्तान्तकथनम् / Śiva’s Reassurance to Hari and Brahmā; Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Origin

Devanagari script

पार्षदप्रवरो यो मे सुदामा नाम गोपकः । स राधाशापतः स्वामिन्दानवीं योनिमाश्रितः

Transliteration

pārṣadapravaro yo me sudāmā nāma gopakaḥ | sa rādhāśāpataḥ svāmindānavīṃ yonimāśritaḥ

Translation

主啊，我那最杰出的侍从——名为苏达摩的牧牛者——因罗陀的诅咒，已投生于魔族之胎，生在达那瓦一族之中。

Word by Word

• पार्षद-प्रवरः: the foremost attendant
• पार्षद-प्रवरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पार्षदानां प्रवरः)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive: of me/my)

• सुदामा: Sudama
• सुदामा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (particle indicating name: 'by name')

• गोपकः: cowherd
• गोपकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• राधा-शापतः: due to Radha's curse
• राधा-शापतः: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राधा (प्रातिपदिक) + शाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राधायाः शापः) + तसिल्/पञ्चमी-अर्थ (from/because of the curse)

• स्वामिन्: O lord
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दानवीम्: demonic (of a Danava)
• दानवीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दानवी (प्रातिपदिक; दानव-सम्बन्धिनी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (योनिम् इति)

• योनिम्: womb/birth
• योनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आश्रितः: has taken refuge in / entered
• आश्रितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past active sense here: 'having resorted to'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (addressed as ‘Svāmin’ within the narration; conveyed by Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sudāmā
• Rādhā
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic law of karma: even an exalted being can fall into a lower birth due to a curse, yet Shiva’s lordship (Pati) remains the refuge through which bondage (pāśa) is ultimately removed by grace and right devotion.

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

By calling Shiva ‘Svāmin’ (Master), the verse frames him as the accessible Saguna Lord who governs destinies and restores devotees; Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly presented as a direct means to seek Shiva’s protection and redirection of one’s karmic course.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s grace through Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and regular Linga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa-dhāraṇa, cultivating humility to avoid pride that leads to karmic downfall.