Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

महाबलो महावीर्योऽजेयो देवादिभिस्सदा । सर्वेषां लोकपालानां निखिलर्द्धिसुभुग्विभो

Transliteration

mahābalo mahāvīryo'jeyo devādibhissadā | sarveṣāṃ lokapālānāṃ nikhilarddhisubhugvibho

Translation

يا ربّ الشامل لكلّ شيء، أنتَ ذو قوّةٍ عظيمة وبأسٍ جليل، لا يُقهَر أبداً حتى من الآلهة وغيرهم. أنتَ المالكُ البهيّ لكلّ كمالٍ وازدهار، متفوّقاً على جميع لوكابالا (حُرّاس العوالم).

Word by Word

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् बलम् यस्य/महाबलः)

• महावीर्यः: of great valor/power
• महावीर्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• अजेयः: unconquerable
• अजेयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + जि (धातु) → जेय (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थक-विशेषण (unconquerable)

• देव-आदिभिः: by the gods and others
• देव-आदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवाः आदयः येषां तैः)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन; सर्व-विशेषण

• लोकपालानाम्: of the guardians of the worlds
• लोकपालानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकानां पालाः)

• निखिल-ऋद्धि-सुभुक्: enjoyer of all prosperities
• निखिल-ऋद्धि-सुभुक्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + सु (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययार्थ) + भुज् (धातु) → भुक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (निखिलाः ऋद्धयः सुभुङ्क्ते/सुभुक्)

• विभो: O all-pervading one
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Lokapalas (Dikpalas)

FAQs

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

The verse establishes Shiva as Vibhu (all-pervading) and Ajeya (unconquerable), placing all cosmic powers—devas and lokapālas—beneath Him. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to Pati (Shiva) as the supreme Lord who alone bestows ṛddhi (true spiritual attainment) and liberation.

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

By praising Shiva’s supreme might and all-pervasiveness, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: devotees approach the Lord through accessible forms like the Śiva-liṅga, offering stuti and pūjā while recognizing that the worshipped form signifies the all-pervading reality beyond all gods.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is stuti with japa: repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Shiva as Vibhu and Ajeya. This can be paired with simple liṅga-pūjā and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance as signs of surrender to the supreme Lord.