Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

प्राचेतसं छत्रमतीवसुप्रभं रत्नैरुपेतं विविधैर्विराजितम् । धृतं तदा तच्च कुमारमूर्ध्नि वै ह्यनन्तचान्द्रैः किरणैर्महाप्रभैः

Transliteration

prācetasaṃ chatramatīvasuprabhaṃ ratnairupetaṃ vividhairvirājitam | dhṛtaṃ tadā tacca kumāramūrdhni vai hyanantacāndraiḥ kiraṇairmahāprabhaiḥ

Translation

Dann wurde über dem Haupt des göttlichen Kumāra ein königlicher Schirm Prācetas’ gehalten, überaus strahlend und mit mancherlei Edelsteinen geschmückt; er leuchtete in unzähligen, mondgleichen Strahlen von großer Pracht.

Word by Word

• prācetasam: of Varuṇa (Prācetasa)
• prācetasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prācetasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• chatram: umbrella
• chatram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chatra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• atīva: exceedingly
• atīva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atīva (अव्यय)
• Form: अत्यर्थवाचक अव्यय (intensifying adverb)

• suprabham: very radiant
• suprabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su-prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ratnaiḥ: with jewels
• ratnaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• upetam: adorned/endowed
• upetam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-i (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed’

• vividhaiḥ: various
• vividhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• virājitam: resplendent
• virājitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-rāj (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘shining, splendid’

• dhṛtam: held
• dhṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicate ‘was held’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• tat: that (umbrella)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• kumāra-mūrdhni: on the prince’s head
• kumāra-mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; mūrdhni (Masculine loc. sg.) with षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense ‘on the head of the prince’

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/पादपूरण अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: for/indeed)

• ananta-cāndraiḥ: endless, moon-like
• ananta-cāndraiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta + candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kiraṇaiḥ: with rays
• kiraṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• mahāprabhaiḥ: of great brilliance
• mahāprabhaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā-prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Kumara (Kartikeya/Skanda)

FAQs

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

The jeweled parasol over Kumāra signifies divine sovereignty and protective grace: in Shaiva understanding, true glory is not mere power but the radiance of dharma upheld under Śiva’s auspicious order.

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

Kumāra’s honor reflects reverence to Śiva’s Saguna manifestation through His divine family and acts; devotion to Śiva naturally includes honoring His attendants and sons, which supports bhakti rooted in Śiva’s compassionate presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate bhakti through upacāra (honorific offerings): mentally offer a “royal parasol” of protection and surrender to Śiva (with the Panchākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and dedicate one’s actions to dharma.