Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

बहूनि च कबंधानि नृत्यमानानि तत्र वै । वल्गमानानि शतशो उद्यतास्त्रकराणि च

Transliteration

bahūni ca kabaṃdhāni nṛtyamānāni tatra vai | valgamānāni śataśo udyatāstrakarāṇi ca

Translation

Dort sah man wahrlich viele kopflose Rümpfe tanzen; zu Hunderten sprangen sie umher, die Hände hoch erhoben und Waffen in den Fäusten.

Word by Word

• बहूनि: many
• बहूनि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

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

• कबन्धानि: headless trunks (kabandhas)
• कबन्धानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• नृत्यमानानि: dancing
• नृत्यमानानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• वल्गमानानि: leaping about
• वल्गमानानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वल्ग् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि

• शतशः: by hundreds, in hundreds
• शतशः: Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशः (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (distributive adverb)

• उद्यत: raised, uplifted
• उद्यत: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + यम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (उन्नत/उत्थित)

• अस्त्रकराणि: weapon-holding hands
• अस्त्रकराणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अस्त्रस्य कराः/अस्त्रधारिणः कराः)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Kabaṃdha (headless bodies)
• Weapons (Astra)

FAQs

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

The terrifying image of headless bodies still “dancing” portrays the overwhelming force of divine will in cosmic conflict, urging the seeker toward vairāgya (dispassion) and remembrance of Shiva as Pati—the Lord who transcends birth, death, and fear.

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

Such battlefield visions emphasize the limits of worldly power and the need for refuge in Saguna Shiva—worshiped as the Linga—who remains the stable, auspicious center amid destruction and transformation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to stabilize the mind when confronted with fear or turmoil, along with cultivating inner detachment (vairāgya) as a Shaiva discipline.