Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

अथ शुंभो गणेशश्च रथमूषक वाहनौ । युध्यमानौ शरव्रातैः परस्परमविध्यताम्

Transliteration

atha śuṃbho gaṇeśaśca rathamūṣaka vāhanau | yudhyamānau śaravrātaiḥ parasparamavidhyatām

Translation

Da kämpften Śuṃbha und Gaṇeśa—der eine auf dem Streitwagen, der andere auf der Maus als seinem Reittier—weiter und trafen einander immer wieder mit Salven von Pfeilen.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequence marker: 'then/now')

• शुंभः: Śumbha
• शुंभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गणेशः: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रथमूषकवाहनौ: (the two) having chariot and mouse as mounts (respectively)
• रथमूषकवाहनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ + मूषक + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (रथवाहनः च मूषकवाहनः च)

• युध्यमानौ: fighting (the two)
• युध्यमानौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle, Ātmanepada sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• शरव्रातैः: with volleys of arrows
• शरव्रातैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + व्रात (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शराणां व्रातः = multitude of arrows)

• परस्परम्: each other; mutually
• परस्परम्: Adhikarana/Prakara (प्रकार/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्परम् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

• अविध्यताम्: (they two) pierced/struck
• अविध्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; छन्दसि/काव्ये दीर्घादेशः (ending -ताम् for dual)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Shumbha

FAQs

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

The verse portrays dharma-protection through Saguna divine action: Gaṇeśa confronts asuric arrogance (Śuṃbha), showing that the Lord’s grace operates even through battle to restrain adharma and restore right order.

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

In Shaiva tradition, Gaṇeśa is worshiped as the foremost gaṇa of Shiva and a gateway to Shiva’s grace; honoring him before Linga worship removes obstacles (vighna) so the devotee can approach Saguna Shiva with steadiness and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin Shiva-pūjā with Gaṇeśa-prārthanā and japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate inner focus and overcome obstacles that arise like ‘volleys’ in spiritual practice.