Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

महावीरैश्शंखचूडो जगाम रथमध्यतः । धनुर्विकृष्य कर्णान्तं चकार शरवर्षणम्

Transliteration

mahāvīraiśśaṃkhacūḍo jagāma rathamadhyataḥ | dhanurvikṛṣya karṇāntaṃ cakāra śaravarṣaṇam

Translation

ثم إن شانخَچودا، وقد أحاط به الأبطال العظام، تقدّم إلى قلب صفوف المركبات؛ فشدّ قوسه حتى أذنه وأطلق وابلًا من السهام كالمطر.

Word by Word

• महावीरैः: with great heroes
• महावीरैः: Saha (सह/साकं)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural masculine

• शंखचूडः: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शंखचूडः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख (प्रातिपदिक) + चूड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; proper name; Nominative singular masculine

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Perfect 3rd person singular

• रथमध्यतः: from the middle of the chariot
• रथमध्यतः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ablative-adverbial sense ‘from the middle of the chariot’

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular neuter

• विकृष्य: having drawn (back)
• विकृष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययभाव) कृदन्त; gerund/absolutive ‘having drawn/pulled’

• कर्णान्तम्: to the ear-end (up to the ear)
• कर्णान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘कर्णस्य अन्तः’ इति; Accusative singular masculine (as measure/limit)

• चकार: did/made
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; Perfect 3rd person singular

• शरवर्षणम्: a shower of arrows
• शरवर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शराणां वर्षणम्’ इति; Accusative singular neuter

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkhacūḍa

FAQs

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

It portrays the outward surge of heroic force and aggression, reminding the devotee that mere martial power is not ultimate; in Shaiva thought, all strength is subordinate to Shiva’s will (Pati), and conflict becomes a mirror for mastering inner passions through devotion and discernment.

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

In the battlefield narrative, Saguna Shiva is implicitly the sovereign protector of dharma; remembering the Linga as the stable axis of consciousness helps devotees remain centered while worldly ‘arrow-showers’—fear, anger, and pride—assail the mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) for steadiness under pressure, ideally with Rudrākṣa and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as aids to recollection of Shiva’s guardianship.