Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

देव्याः क्रोधः शक्तिनिर्माणं च

Devī’s Wrath and the Manifestation of the Śaktis

Devanagari script

यथा च तृणसंहारमनलः कुरुते तथा । एवं ताश्शक्तयस्सर्वास्संहारं कर्तुमुद्यताः

Transliteration

yathā ca tṛṇasaṃhāramanalaḥ kurute tathā | evaṃ tāśśaktayassarvāssaṃhāraṃ kartumudyatāḥ

Translation

وكما تُفني النارُ القشَّ فناءً، كذلك كانت تلك الشاكتيات جميعًا مستعداتٍ لإتمام الانحلال والهلاك.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative manner)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• तृण-संहारम्: the destruction of grass/straw
• तृण-संहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग? संहार-शब्दः पुं; अत्र कर्मपदत्वात् द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तृणानां संहारः)

• अनलः: fire
• अनलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कुरुते: does/makes
• कुरुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तथा: so/thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (correlative adverb: so/thus)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/निश्चयवाचक (thus/in this way)

• ताः: those (f.)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• शक्तयः: powers/energies
• शक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) शक्तयः इति

• संहारम्: destruction
• संहारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do/to make
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक (to do)

• उद्यताः: ready/intent
• उद्यताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud-yata (प्रातिपदिक; √yam/√yat कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त/कृतप्रत्यय (past participial adjective), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ताः शक्तयः इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: fire-like dissolution imagery (anala as pralaya-analogy)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays saṃhāra (dissolution) as an ordered, divine function—Shiva’s śaktis act with the inevitability of fire consuming dry grass, reminding the seeker that all compounded things are transient and should be approached with detachment and devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

The Linga represents Shiva as the stable Reality beyond changing states; when dissolution is described, it highlights why devotees take refuge in Saguna Shiva through Linga worship—seeking the One who governs creation, preservation, and dissolution through His śaktis.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with contemplation on impermanence—offering fear of change into Shiva, the Lord of saṃhāra and liberation.