Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas

Devanagari script

चक्रं सुदर्शनं शार्ङ्गं धनुरादाय सायुधः । अभ्युद्ययौ महादैत्यं रणाय भगवान् हरिः

Transliteration

cakraṃ sudarśanaṃ śārṅgaṃ dhanurādāya sāyudhaḥ | abhyudyayau mahādaityaṃ raṇāya bhagavān hariḥ

Translation

Den Sudarśana-Diskus und den Śārṅga-Bogen ergreifend, vollständig bewaffnet, schritt der erhabene Hari zum Kampf gegen den mächtigen Daitya voran.

Word by Word

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सुदर्शनम्: Sudarsana (beautiful-looking)
• सुदर्शनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सुन्दरं दर्शनं यस्य/सु-दर्शन); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying चक्रम्)

• शार्ङ्गम्: Śārṅga (the bow)
• शार्ङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन (धनुः = धनुस्, accusative)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु) → आदाय (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund, ल्यप्); क्रियाविशेषण (having taken)

• सायुधः: armed
• सायुधः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (आयुधानि सन्ति यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying हरिः/भगवान्)

• अभ्युद्ययौ: advanced/went forth
• अभ्युद्ययौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + उद् + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महादैत्यम्: the great demon
• महादैत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् दैत्यः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• रणाय: for battle
• रणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of battle)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भगवान् इति समानाधिकरण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)
• Sudarshana Chakra
• Sharnga Bow
• Mahadaitya (great demon)

FAQs

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

It portrays divine intervention for the restoration of dharma: even mighty cosmic powers act decisively in the world, while the Shaiva Siddhanta vision reminds the devotee that all such powers ultimately operate within the supreme sovereignty of Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse highlights Saguna (manifest) divine action—God taking form and wielding attributes. In Linga worship, the devotee recognizes the manifest as a gateway to the formless: the Linga signifies Shiva as the transcendent ground, while narratives of divine battles cultivate faith, surrender, and righteous living.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind in protective remembrance—japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, praying for inner victory over demonic tendencies (anger, pride, delusion) just as dharma is defended outwardly in the story.