Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्णकवचं दिव्यं जगन्मंगलमंगलम् । दत्तवाञ्शंखचूडाय सर्वत्र विजयप्रदम्

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇakavacaṃ divyaṃ jaganmaṃgalamaṃgalam | dattavāñśaṃkhacūḍāya sarvatra vijayapradam

Translation

ومنحه لِشَنْخَچُودَا الدرعَ الوقائيَّ الإلهيَّ (كَوَچَا) لِشْرِي كْرِشْنَا، وهو أسمى بَرَكَةٍ للعالَم، مانحًا إيّاه النصرَ في كلِّ مكان.

Word by Word

• श्रीकृष्णकवचम्: Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s armor (amulet)
• श्रीकृष्णकवचम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकृष्ण + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śrīkṛṣṇasya kavacam)

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• जगत्-मङ्गल-मङ्गलम्: most auspicious for the world
• जगत्-मङ्गल-मङ्गलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जगत् + मङ्गल + मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः) — ‘जगतः मङ्गलम्’ इति अर्थे, पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः

• दत्तवान्: (he) gave / having given
• दत्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्तवतु (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• शङ्खचूडाय: to Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शङ्खचूडाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्खचूड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4), एकवचन

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of place)

• विजयप्रदम्: granting victory
• विजयप्रदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजय + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘विजयं प्रददाति’ इति)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śrīkṛṣṇakavacaṃ divyaṃ jaganmaṃgalamaṃgalam | dattavāñśaṃkhacūḍāya sarvatra vijayapradam

Type: kavaca

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Shankhachuda

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Purāṇic theme that mantric protection and divine boons can produce worldly success (vijaya), yet such powers remain within the realm of saṃsāra; lasting auspiciousness is ultimately fulfilled by right devotion and Shiva’s grace that leads beyond mere victory to liberation.

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

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, protective boons like a kavaca function as saguna (manifest) supports within cosmic conflict; the Shiva Purana repeatedly implies that even when other deities’ protections operate in battle, the highest refuge for devotees is Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—aimed at inner purification rather than conquest.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is kavaca-pāṭha (recitation of a protective hymn) with disciplined purity and devotion; in Shaiva practice this is commonly complemented by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a daily reminder that protection is ultimately spiritual, not merely martial.