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Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas

दैत्यो दुंदुभिनिर्ह्रादो दुष्टः प्रह्लादमातुलः । सांत्वयामास तां वाग्भिर्दुःखितां देवदुःखदः

daityo duṃdubhinirhrādo duṣṭaḥ prahlādamātulaḥ | sāṃtvayāmāsa tāṃ vāgbhirduḥkhitāṃ devaduḥkhadaḥ

那邪恶的阿修罗杜姆杜毗尼尔赫罗达(Duṃdubhinirhrāda)——普罗诃罗陀(Prahlāda)的外叔,亦为诸天之苦恼者——以巧言试图安慰那悲恸之人。

daityaḥthe demon
daityaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdaitya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
duṃdubhi-nirhrādaḥDuṃdubhinirhrāda (drum-roar, name)
duṃdubhi-nirhrādaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootduṃdubhi (प्रातिपदिक) + nirhrāda (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'duṃdubheḥ nirhrādaḥ' (proper name)
duṣṭaḥwicked
duṣṭaḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootduṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक; from दुष् धातु)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
prahlāda-mātulaḥmaternal uncle of Prahlāda
prahlāda-mātulaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootprahlāda (प्रातिपदिक) + mātula (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'prahlādasya mātulaḥ'
sāṃtvayāmāsaconsoled
sāṃtvayāmāsa:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootsāṃtvaya (प्रातिपदिक/denom. base) from √sāṃtv (धातु/नामधातु)
FormLiṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); denominative/causative sense 'to console'
tāmher
tām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
vāgbhiḥwith words
vāgbhiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootvāc (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)
duḥkhitāmsorrowful
duḥkhitām:
Visheshya (विशेष्य/qualificand)
TypeAdjective
Rootduḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक; from दुःख)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
deva-duḥkha-daḥgiver of sorrow to the gods
deva-duḥkha-daḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdeva (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + da (धातु/प्रातिपदिक 'giver')
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: 'devānāṃ duḥkhaṃ dadāti'

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pasha

Significance: Illustrates how demonic counsel can deepen bondage: consoling words used for manipulation are a form of tirodhāna (concealment) at the narrative level—covering discernment and steering the bound soul toward further karmic entanglement.

P
Prahlada
D
Daitya
D
Devas
D
Dumdubhinirhrada

FAQs

The verse highlights how sorrow can be manipulated through mere speech by those opposed to dharma; Shaiva teaching implies that true consolation is found not in deceptive persuasion but in taking refuge in Pati (Shiva), the inner Lord who dissolves duḥkha through right knowledge and devotion.

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa’s conflict setting, worldly consolations are shown as unstable; turning to Saguna Shiva—worshipped as the Liṅga—grounds the mind in steadfast śraddhā, transforming grief into surrender and protection under Shiva’s grace.

As a practical takeaway, one may steady grief through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivating inner detachment, seeking Shiva’s refuge rather than relying on enticing but unreliable words.