Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

दानवाः शरजालेन स्कन्दस्य क्षतविग्रहाः । भीताः प्रदुद्रुवुस्सर्वे शेषा मरणतस्तदा

Transliteration

dānavāḥ śarajālena skandasya kṣatavigrahāḥ | bhītāḥ pradudruvussarve śeṣā maraṇatastadā

Translation

Von Skandas Pfeilnetz am Leib verwundet, gerieten die Dānavas in Angst; und alle Übrigen flohen damals, aus Furcht vor dem Tod.

Word by Word

• दानवाः: demons (Dānavas)
• दानवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शरजालेन: by a net/shower of arrows
• शरजालेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शराणां जालम्)

• स्कन्दस्य: of Skanda
• स्कन्दस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• क्षतविग्रहाः: with wounded bodies
• क्षतविग्रहाः: Visheshya-Karta (विशेष्य-कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत (कृदन्त; क्षन्/क्षत्-धातु, क्त) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्षतः विग्रहः यस्य) — बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषण-प्रयोग

• भीताः: frightened
• भीताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त; भी-धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; ‘frightened’

• प्रदुद्रुवुः: they ran away; fled
• प्रदुद्रुवुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘they fled’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (दानवाः)

• शेषाः: the remaining (ones)
• शेषाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण/संज्ञावत् (the remaining ones)

• मरणतः: from fear of death
• मरणतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from death/for fear of death’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Skanda
• Danavas

FAQs

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

It shows how adharma collapses when confronted by divinely empowered dharma: fear arises in the demonic mind because it lacks refuge in Pati (the Lord), while the Lord’s side acts with ordained strength and protection.

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

Skanda’s victory functions as Saguna Shiva’s protective grace in action—devotees see the Lord’s safeguarding power expressed through His divine family and forces, reinforcing trust in Shiva’s guardianship symbolized by Linga-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate fearlessness through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and seeking Shiva’s protection before challenges, rather than acting from panic like the fleeing Dānavas.