Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

दुन्दुभिनिर्ह्रादनिर्णयः / Dundubhinirhrāda’s Stratagem: Targeting the Brāhmaṇas

Devanagari script

विचार्य बहुशो दैत्यस्तत्त्वं विज्ञाय निश्चितम् । अवश्यमग्रजन्मानो हेतवोऽत्र विचारतः

Transliteration

vicārya bahuśo daityastattvaṃ vijñāya niścitam | avaśyamagrajanmāno hetavo'tra vicārataḥ

Translation

他反复思量，洞见真实之理，遂作坚定之决断：细加考察可知，此间诸因必然根植于先出生者——诸位最尊长的前辈。

Word by Word

• विचार्य: having considered
• विचार्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having reflected/considered’

• बहुशः: many times
• बहुशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आवृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: repeatedly/many times)

• दैत्यः: the demon
• दैत्यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्त्वम्: the truth/principle
• तत्त्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having understood/ascertained’

• निश्चितम्: determined/settled
• निश्चितम्: कर्मविशेषण (Adjective of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चित (कृदन्त; √चि/निश्चि)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; here qualifying तत्त्वम्

• अवश्यम्: certainly
• अवश्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवश्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक (certainly/necessarily)

• अग्रजन्मानः: the earlier-born/ancients
• अग्रजन्मानः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘अग्रे जन्म येषाम्’ = ‘पूर्वजन्मिनः/पूर्वोत्पन्नाः’ (those born earlier/ancients)

• हेतवः: causes/reasons
• हेतवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• विचारतः: upon consideration
• विचारतः: हेतु/निमित्त (Reason/ground)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विचारतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: ‘from/according to consideration’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It highlights tattva-vicāra (discernment of truth): repeated reflection leads to certainty, and one recognizes the deeper causes behind events rather than reacting only to surface conflict—an essential step toward Shaiva clarity and right action.

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga-worship trains the mind to look beyond appearances to the underlying tattva (Shiva as the inner ground). This verse mirrors that movement: from agitation to discernment of the real causes, aligning the devotee with Shiva’s ordering wisdom.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with steady contemplation—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed with calm reflection (vicāra) to see causes clearly and act without delusion.