Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

ततो गणेश्वरः क्रुद्धस्स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम् । संप्राप्यातिबलो दैत्य गदां परशुनाच्छिनत्

Transliteration

tato gaṇeśvaraḥ kruddhassmṛtvā śivapadāmbujam | saṃprāpyātibalo daitya gadāṃ paraśunācchinat

Translation

Da wurde Gaṇeśvara zornig und gedachte der lotosgleichen Füße des Herrn Śiva. Überaus kraftvoll geworden, erreichte er den Daitya und hieb mit seiner Axt die Keule des Dämons entzwei.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• गणेश्वरः: Gaṇeśvara (lord of the gaṇas)
• गणेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇeśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √krudh (धातु) → kruddha (कृदन्त, क्त PPP used adjectivally)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of गणेश्वरः)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable gerund): ‘having remembered’

• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पद-अम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of स्मृत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + ambuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः—‘शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम्’ (Śiva’s lotus-feet)

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√prāp (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (Absolutive/Gerund) in -ya form: ‘having attained/obtained’

• अति-बलः: very strong
• अति-बलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of गणेश्वरः
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘अतिशयेन बलवान्’ (very strong)

• दैत्य: O Daitya (demon)!
• दैत्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• गदाम्: the mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परशुना: with an axe
• परशुना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• अच्छिनत्: cut off, severed
• अच्छिनत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√chid (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śiva-pada-ambuja-smaraṇa (implicit: remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It shows śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet; from that inner surrender arises divine strength to overcome obstructive, demonic forces (pāśa-like bondage) that oppose dharma.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—turning the mind to Śiva’s sacred feet (a concrete focus like the Liṅga) so grace and potency manifest in action, reflecting how Liṅga-upāsanā stabilizes remembrance and invokes Śiva’s protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-smaraṇa with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while mentally bowing to Śiva’s lotus-feet; this cultivates steadiness and courage when facing inner obstacles.