Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

अथातीव चुकोपोच्चैश्शंखचूडः प्रतापवान् । शक्त्या जघानोरसि तं स चकंपे पपात कौ

Transliteration

athātīva cukopoccaiśśaṃkhacūḍaḥ pratāpavān | śaktyā jaghānorasi taṃ sa cakaṃpe papāta kau

Translation

ثم اشتعلَ شانخاتشودا، القويُّ الشجاع، غضبًا شديدًا. فضربه برمحِه «شاكتي» في صدره؛ فارتجفَ المحاربُ وسقطَ في ساحةِ القتال.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक/सम्बन्धबोधक) 'then/now'

• atīva: exceedingly
• atīva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atīva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; intensifying adverb (अतिशयार्थक क्रियाविशेषण)

• cukopa: became angry
• cukopa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kup (कुप् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• uccaiḥ: loudly; greatly
• uccaiḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccais (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) 'loudly/highly'

• śaṃkhacūḍaḥ: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• śaṃkhacūḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkhacūḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper name

• pratāpavān: mighty
• pratāpavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of śaṃkhacūḍaḥ

• śaktyā: with a spear/śakti-weapon
• śaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• jaghāna: struck; smote
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• urasi: on the chest
• urasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; adhikaraṇa-locative

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; refers to opponent (likely gaṇeśvara/vīrabhadra contextually)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• cakampē: trembled
• cakampē: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kamp (कम्प् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• papāta: fell
• papāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• kau: which two?/who two? (unclear reading)
• kau: Anirdhārita (अनिर्धारित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ka (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvivacana (द्विवचन) form; likely Prathamā/Dvitīyā dual depending on context; text appears corrupt/uncertain (कौ)

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?

The verse highlights how uncontrolled krodha (wrath) fuels adharma and destruction; in Shaiva thought, such agitation of the mind is a bondage (pāśa) that obstructs clarity, devotion, and liberation.

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

By contrast: the battlefield turbulence shows the fruit of ego and rage, while Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) trains the mind toward śānti, surrender, and purification—turning the same inner energy from violence into devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is krodha-śamana through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady breath, along with simple Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance to cultivate restraint and auspiciousness.