Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

निशुंभशुंभौ सेनान्यौ सिन्धुपुत्रस्य तौ तथा । कालनेमिर्महादैत्योऽसुराश्चान्ये पराजिताः

Transliteration

niśuṃbhaśuṃbhau senānyau sindhuputrasya tau tathā | kālanemirmahādaityo'surāścānye parājitāḥ

Translation

Niśumbha und Śumbha—die beiden Heerführer des Sohnes Sindhus—wurden gleichermaßen besiegt; und Kālanemi, der große Dānava, samt anderen Asuras wurde ebenfalls niedergeworfen.

Word by Word

• निशुम्भशुम्भौ: Niśumbha and Śumbha
• निशुम्भशुम्भौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ + शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (निशुम्भः + शुम्भः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), द्विवचन (Dual)

• सेनान्यौ: the two commanders
• सेनान्यौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेनानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• सिन्धुपुत्रस्य: of Sindhu’s son
• सिन्धुपुत्रस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सिन्धोः पुत्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject—resumptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'likewise')

• कालनेमिः: Kālanemi
• कालनेमिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालनेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महादैत्यः: the great demon
• महादैत्यः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् दैत्यः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असुराः: demons
• असुराः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पराजिताः: defeated
• पराजिताः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पराजि (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे भूतकर्मणि (past passive participle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Niśumbha
• Śumbha
• Kālanemi
• Sindhu (as progenitor reference)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the inevitable defeat of asuric power when it opposes dharma; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it points to pāśa (bondage—ego, arrogance, violence) being overruled by the Lord’s grace and right order.

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

Though the verse is martial in tone, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion by portraying divine governance in history: the devotee takes refuge in Shiva’s manifest power that subdues adharma, a mindset that culminates in steady Linga-worship and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to conquer inner ‘asuras’ such as pride and anger.