Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

जलंधरयुद्धे मायाप्रयोगः — Jalandhara’s Māyā in the Battle with Śiva

Devanagari script

अवाङ्मुखस्थितस्तूष्णीं नानालीलाविशारदः । शिथिलांगो विषण्णात्मा विस्मृत्य स्वपराक्रमम्

Transliteration

avāṅmukhasthitastūṣṇīṃ nānālīlāviśāradaḥ | śithilāṃgo viṣaṇṇātmā vismṛtya svaparākramam

Translation

Obwohl er in vielen Strategien und Darstellungen bewandert war, stand er mit gesenktem Gesicht schweigend da. Seine Glieder waren schlaff und sein Herz niedergeschlagen, er schien seine eigene Tapferkeit vergessen zu haben.

Word by Word

• अवाङ्-मुख-स्थितः: standing with face turned downward
• अवाङ्-मुख-स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवाङ् (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: अवाङ्मुख (कर्मधारय/अव्ययीभाव-छाया: ‘down-faced’) + स्थितः (स्थित-विशेषण)

• तूष्णीम्: silently
• तूष्णीम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘silently’

• नाना-लीला-विशारदः: skilled in many playful acts
• नाना-लीला-विशारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + लीला (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: नानालीला (कर्मधारय: ‘various sports’) + तत्र विशारदः (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव)

• शिथिल-अङ्गः: one with slack limbs
• शिथिल-अङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिथिल (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘शिथिलानि अङ्गानि यस्य सः’)

• विषण्ण-आत्मा: downcast in spirit
• विषण्ण-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषण्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘विषण्णः आत्मा यस्य सः’)

• विस्मृत्य: having forgotten
• विस्मृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/क्त्वा); उपसर्गः वि-; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• स्व-पराक्रमम्: his own prowess
• स्व-पराक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य पराक्रमः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the collapse of ego-based confidence: when pride and self-reliance fail, the soul’s true need for Śiva’s grace becomes evident—an opening toward surrender (śaraṇāgati) and right devotion.

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

The verse underscores that worldly prowess is unstable; Saguna Śiva (worshipped as the Liṅga) is the steady refuge. Turning from dejection to Liṅga-bhakti aligns the limited self with the Lord who grants protection and inner strength.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In moments of fear or despondency, repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with calm breath, and mentally take refuge in Śiva; if practiced ritually, accompany it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and simple japa as steadiness returns.