Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

तथैव नंदी ह्यपतद्भूतले गदया हतः । महावीरोऽपि रिपुहा किंचिद्व्याकुलमानसः

Transliteration

tathaiva naṃdī hyapatadbhūtale gadayā hataḥ | mahāvīro'pi ripuhā kiṃcidvyākulamānasaḥ

Translation

Ebenso fiel Nandī zu Boden, von der Keule getroffen. Obwohl er ein großer Held und Feindbezwinger war, geriet sein Geist für einen Augenblick etwas in Unruhe.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• नन्दी: Nandin
• नन्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle) — emphasis/causal nuance

• अपतत्: fell
• अपतत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (धातु)
• Form: लङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūtala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• गदया: by the mace
• गदया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया, एकवचन

• हतः: struck, slain
• हतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (धातु) → hata (कृदन्त, क्त PPP)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of नन्दी)

• महा-वीरः: a great hero
• महा-वीरः: Karta (कर्ता) (understood, same referent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् वीरः’

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (concessive/also)

• रिपु-हा: slayer of enemies
• रिपु-हा: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to नन्दी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ripu (प्रातिपदिक) + han (प्रातिपदिक/agent noun -ha)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘रिपून् हन्ति’ (enemy-slayer)

• किञ्चित्: somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiṃcit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial use), परिमाणवाचक (to some extent)

• व्याकुल-मानसः: with a disturbed mind
• व्याकुल-मानसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyākula (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘व्याकुलं मानसं यस्य’ (or descriptive: ‘vyākula-mānasa’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Nandi

FAQs

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

It shows that even Shiva’s foremost attendant, Nandī, may face momentary inner agitation under intense karmic pressure, yet true bhakti is measured by returning to steadiness and continuing one’s dharma in remembrance of Shiva.

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

Nandī represents the ideal devotee oriented to Saguna Shiva—serving the Lord’s manifest form and mission. The verse underscores that devotion is not the absence of struggle, but fidelity to Shiva’s presence even when the mind is shaken.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to re-center the mind when disturbed, along with simple Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance and steady breath to restore inner composure.