Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

केषांचिद्बाहवश्छिन्ना खड्पातैस्सुदारुणैः । केषांचिदूरवश्छिन्ना वीराणां मानिनां मृधे

Transliteration

keṣāṃcidbāhavaśchinnā khaḍpātaissudāruṇaiḥ | keṣāṃcidūravaśchinnā vīrāṇāṃ mānināṃ mṛdhe

Translation

In jener heftigen Schlacht wurden die Arme einiger durch schreckliche Schwertstreiche abgetrennt, und die Schenkel anderer wurden niedergehauen.

Word by Word

• केषाम्: of some (which ones)
• केषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• चित्: some
• चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक-निपात (indefinite particle)

• बाहवः: arms
• बाहवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• छिन्नाः: were cut off
• छिन्नाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय, √छिद् (धातु) ‘to cut’; passive/resultant ‘were cut’

• खड्ग-पातैः: by sword-strokes
• खड्ग-पातैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सु-दारुणैः: very dreadful
• सु-दारुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (very cruel/terrible)

• केषाम्: of some
• केषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• चित्: some
• चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक-निपात (indefinite particle)

• ऊरवः: thighs
• ऊरवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• छिन्नाः: were cut off
• छिन्नाः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिन्न (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय, √छिद् (धातु)

• वीराणाम्: of heroes
• वीराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• मानिनाम्: of the proud
• मानिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• मृधे: in battle
• मृधे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृध्/मृध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse uses stark battlefield imagery to teach impermanence: bodily strength and heroic pride are fragile, while true refuge is in Pati (Lord Shiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such scenes cultivate vairāgya and redirect the soul (paśu) from attachment to the body toward Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

By showing the collapse of worldly power in battle, the text implicitly elevates devotion to Saguna Shiva—the compassionate Lord who grants protection and grace beyond physical might. Linga-worship symbolizes turning from transient forms to Shiva as the stable, liberating Reality and Lord of all actions and outcomes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is remembrance of Shiva amid fear and loss: japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and cultivating detachment. A simple Shaiva practice is to apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and perform mantra-japa to steady the mind and surrender the fruits of action to Shiva.