Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवानुद्रो महालीलाकरः प्रभुः । अभयं दत्तवांस्तेभ्यो महोत्साहं प्रवर्द्धयन्

Transliteration

tacchrutvā bhagavānudro mahālīlākaraḥ prabhuḥ | abhayaṃ dattavāṃstebhyo mahotsāhaṃ pravarddhayan

Translation

Als er dies vernommen hatte, gewährte der erhabene Herr Rudra — der Gebieter, der das große göttliche Līlā-Spiel vollführt — ihnen Furchtlosigkeit und mehrte so ihren hohen Mut.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adverbially = 'that (having heard that)'

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), 'having heard'

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (भगवत् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (रुद्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahā-līlā-karaḥ: performer of great sport
• mahā-līlā-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (महा प्रातिपदिक) + līlā (लीला प्रातिपदिक) + kara (कर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; compound = 'maker/doer of great play' (महालीलां करोतीति)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रभु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• abhayam: fearlessness; assurance of safety
• abhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhaya (अभय प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• dattavān: gave
• dattavān: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवतु/क्तवन्), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used as finite sense = 'gave'

• tebhyaḥ: to them
• tebhyaḥ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• mahā-utsāham: great enthusiasm
• mahā-utsāham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा प्रातिपदिक) + utsāha (उत्साह प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; karmadhāraya = 'great enthusiasm'

• pravarddhayan: increasing
• pravarddhayan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + vṛdh (वृध् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'increasing/causing to grow' (simultaneous action)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): when the Lord bestows abhaya, inner fear born of limitation (paśutva) subsides and spiritual courage rises, enabling steadfastness in dharma and devotion.

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

It reflects Saguna Śiva’s compassionate, personal lordship— the worshipper approaches the Linga/Lord for śaraṇāgati (refuge), and the Lord responds with protection and assurance, strengthening the devotee’s resolve.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a prayer for abhaya; optionally apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and meditate on Śiva as the protector who increases sattvic courage.