Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

एवं नन्दी कार्तिकेयो विकटश्च प्रतापवान् । वीरभद्रो गणाश्चान्ये जगर्जुस्समरेऽधिकम्

Transliteration

evaṃ nandī kārtikeyo vikaṭaśca pratāpavān | vīrabhadro gaṇāścānye jagarjussamare'dhikam

Translation

So brüllten Nandī, Kārtikeya, der mächtige Vikaṭa, Vīrabhadra und die übrigen Gaṇas auf dem Schlachtfeld umso lauter und offenbarten die wilde, schützende Kraft der Heerscharen Śivas, als sie voranschritten, um das Dharma zu wahren.

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus
• evaṃ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evaṃ (अव्यय)
• Form: Prakāra-avyaya (adverb of manner)

• nandī: Nandin
• nandī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; proper noun

• kārtikeyaḥ: Kārtikeya
• kārtikeyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtikeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana

• vikaṭaḥ: Vikaṭa
• vikaṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; proper name/epithet

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Sam uccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• pratāpavān: mighty/valorous
• pratāpavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (प्रातिपदिक; -वत् matup)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; matup-pratyaya (possessive)

• vīrabhadraḥ: Vīrabhadra
• vīrabhadraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya-samāsa (proper name)

• gaṇāḥ: troops/attendants
• gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Sam uccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• anye: other
• anye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• jagarjuḥ: roared
• jagarjuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √garj (गर्ज् धातु)
• Form: Laṅ lakāra, Prathamapuruṣa, Bahuvacana; parasmaipada

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī vibhakti, Ekavacana

• adhikam: excessively/more
• adhikam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa-avyaya (adverbial accusative used as indeclinable)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Kartikeya
• Vikata
• Virabhadra
• Ganas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The roar of Nandī, Kārtikeya, Vīrabhadra and the Gaṇas symbolizes the awakened śakti of Śiva’s dharmic protection—when devotion aligns with Pati (Śiva), obstacles and adharma are confronted without fear.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—Śiva as the Lord with attendants and powers. Worship of the Liṅga is worship of that same Śiva, whose living presence is expressed through His Gaṇas that safeguard devotees and cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steadiness in bhakti through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and adopting Śaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s protective presence.