Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

यष्ट्या गणाधिपस्सोथ जघानामरपुङ्गवान् । हरिं च सहसा वीरश्शक्तिदत्तमहाबलः

Transliteration

yaṣṭyā gaṇādhipassotha jaghānāmarapuṅgavān | hariṃ ca sahasā vīraśśaktidattamahābalaḥ

Translation

Daraufhin erschlug der mächtige Anführer der Gaṇas—von Śakti mit gewaltiger Kraft begabt—mit seinem Stab den Vornehmsten unter den Göttern; und in einem jähen Angriff traf er auch Hari (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• यष्ट्या: with a staff
• यष्ट्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• गणाधिपः: the lord of the gaṇas (Gaṇeśa)
• गणाधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then)

• जघान: struck/killed
• जघान: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• अमरपुङ्गवान्: the foremost among the immortals (gods)
• अमरपुङ्गवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amara (प्रातिपदिक) + puṅgava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (plural)

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सहसा: suddenly/forcefully
• सहसा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक/कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: suddenly/violently)

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• शक्तिदत्तमहाबलः: whose great strength was bestowed by Śakti
• शक्तिदत्तमहाबलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + datta (कृदन्त, √dā) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular); बहुव्रीहिः—'he whose great strength is given by Śakti'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Ganas
• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the greatest devas are not supreme in themselves; power flows from Śakti under Śiva’s lordship, pointing to Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate refuge beyond worldly and celestial might.

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

The verse supports Saguna Śiva-bhakti by depicting the cosmic order where Śiva’s attendants act with Śakti’s empowerment; Linga-worship trains the devotee to see all power and protection as rooted in Śiva, not merely in deva-status.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate Śiva-śaraṇāgati (surrender) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Śaiva observances such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and reverent remembrance of Śakti as Śiva’s inseparable power.