Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स्वबलं निहतं दृष्ट्वा मुख्यं बहुतरं ततः । तथा वीरान् प्राणसमान् चुकोपातीव दानवः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | svabalaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā mukhyaṃ bahutaraṃ tataḥ | tathā vīrān prāṇasamān cukopātīva dānavaḥ

Translation

সনৎকুমার বললেন—নিজ সেনাবল, বিশেষত প্রধান ও বহু যোদ্ধাকে নিহত দেখে, আর প্রাণসম প্রিয় বীরদেরও পতিত দেখে সেই দানব ভীষণ ক্রুদ্ধ হয়ে উঠল।

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (Speaker/subject of ‘said’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम; कर्मधारयः ‘सनत् (नित्यः) कुमारः’

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वबलम्: his own army/strength
• स्वबलम्: कर्म (Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘स्वस्य बलम्’

• निहतम्: slain, destroyed
• निहतम्: विशेषण (of svabalam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि√हन् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) = slain

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) = having seen

• मुख्यम्: chief, principal
• मुख्यम्: कर्म (object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बलम् इति विशेषण (another object/apposition)

• बहुतरम्: greater, much more
• बहुतरम्: विशेषण (of mukhyam/balam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुतर (प्रातिपदिक; बहु + तरप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘thereupon/then’ (sequence)

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner ‘thus/so’

• वीरान्: heroes, warriors
• वीरान्: कर्म (Object; whom he regarded as...)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्राणसमान्: as dear as life
• प्राणसमान्: विशेषण (of vīrān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण-सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘प्राणैः समाः’ = equal to life (as dear as life)

• चुकोप: became angry
• चुकोप: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कुप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (intensity)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रता-वाचक-अव्यय (intensifier adverb)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• दानवः: the Dānava (demon)
• दानवः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how krodha (wrath) arises from attachment and loss; in Shaiva understanding, such passions strengthen pāśa (bondage) and obscure discernment, accelerating adharma and downfall.

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

By contrast: the demon’s rage shows the fruit of ego-driven identification, while Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) trains the mind toward devotion and steadiness, reducing anger and aligning the seeker with Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and mindful restraint of anger—using mantra to cool the mind when agitation arises.