Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

ततस्तौ सूर्यसंकाशौ युयुधाते परस्परम् । नानाशस्त्रैस्तथास्त्रैश्च चिरं वीरवरोत्तमौ

Transliteration

tatastau sūryasaṃkāśau yuyudhāte parasparam | nānāśastraistathāstraiśca ciraṃ vīravarottamau

Translation

Dann kämpften jene beiden erlesensten Helden, sonnenhell strahlend, lange Zeit gegeneinander und schlugen mit vielerlei Waffen sowie mit göttlichen Geschossen.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla/Deśa-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• sūrya-saṃkāśau: sun-like, radiant
• sūrya-saṃkāśau: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); adjective qualifying tau

• yuyudhāte: they two fought
• yuyudhāte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: Lakāra: Laṭ (लट्, present), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन)

• parasparam: each other
• parasparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), reciprocal adverb (परस्पर-प्रयोग)

• nānā-śastraiḥ: with various weapons
• nānā-śastraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) sense ‘various weapons’; Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tathā: and also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/adverb (निपात/क्रियाविशेषण)

• astraiḥ: with missiles
• astraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• ciraṃ: for a long time
• ciraṃ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ciraṃ (अव्यय/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of time/duration (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• vīra-vara-uttamau: the two best of heroic champions
• vīra-vara-uttamau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) chain ‘best among hero-chiefs’; Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); apposition to tau

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the intensity of karmic conflict and heroic endurance, while implying that true spiritual steadiness is to remain inwardly aligned to Pati (Shiva) even when outward circumstances are turbulent.

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

The sun-like radiance and “divine missiles” reflect Saguna manifestations—power, splendor, and order—reminding devotees that behind all visible force stands Shiva as the supreme Lord, worshipped in the Linga as the stable center beyond opposites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during moments of struggle, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids for focus and Shaiva remembrance.