Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

महिषाऽसुरपुत्रोऽसौ यदा पुर्यां समागतः । प्रमथन्प्रमथान्सर्वान्निजवीर्यमदोद्धतः

Transliteration

mahiṣā'suraputro'sau yadā puryāṃ samāgataḥ | pramathanpramathānsarvānnijavīryamadoddhataḥ

Translation

ولمّا دخل ذلك—وهو ابنُ مهيشاسورا—المدينةَ، سكرَ بزهوِ قوّتِه، فأخذ يسحقُ ويؤذي جميعَ البراماثا (جندَ خدمةِ شيفا).

Word by Word

• महिषासुरपुत्रः: son of Mahiṣāsura
• महिषासुरपुत्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिषासुर + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यदा: when
• यदा: सम्बन्ध/अधिकरण (Temporal/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal conjunction/adverb)

• पुर्याम्: in the city
• पुर्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• समागतः: arrived
• समागतः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle/कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (active sense)

• प्रमथन्: tormenting/harassing
• प्रमथन्: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + मथ् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle/कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रमथान्: the Pramathas (Śiva’s attendants)
• प्रमथान्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa/कर्म-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• निजवीर्यमदोद्धतः: arrogant from pride in his own valor
• निजवीर्यमदोद्धतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Kartā-viśeṣaṇa/कर्ता-विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज + वीर्य + मद + उद्धत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण; (निजवीर्य-मदेन उद्धतः) तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थ

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The assault on the Pramathas in Kāśī frames the kṣetra as a battleground where Śiva’s gaṇas defend dharma; Kāśī’s Lord is invoked as the ultimate commander of these hosts.

Significance: Remembering Śiva as gaṇādhipa and kṣetra-pāla strengthens the devotee’s confidence that hostile forces (inner and outer) are subdued by divine order.

Characters & Entities

• Mahiṣāsura
• Pramathas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights mada (ego-pride) born of mere personal power, a classic mark of asuric consciousness. In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, such pride strengthens pāśa (bondage) and turns the being away from Pati (Śiva); humility and surrender are implied as the antidote.

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

The Pramathas are Saguna Śiva’s divine attendants—symbols of the Lord’s active, protective presence in the cosmos. The assault on them frames the larger truth that opposition to Śiva’s order (dharma and devotion) culminates in defeat when one aligns with the Liṅga—Śiva as the supreme refuge and center.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter mada with daily Panchākṣarī-japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a humility-vow (anamāna). If following Purāṇic Śaiva observance, Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa are supports for steadiness and remembrance of Śiva while restraining ego-driven impulses.