Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

महामारीकृतं तच्चोपद्रवं क्षयहेतुकम् । चुकोपातीव सहसा सनद्धोभूत्स्वयं तदा

Transliteration

mahāmārīkṛtaṃ taccopadravaṃ kṣayahetukam | cukopātīva sahasā sanaddhobhūtsvayaṃ tadā

Translation

Jenes Unheil, gleich einer großen Seuche, erhob sich dort und wurde zur Ursache des Verderbens. Da rüstete er sich, als wäre er plötzlich von einem Sturm des Zorns getroffen, sogleich aus eigenem Willen vollständig zum Kampf.

Word by Word

• महा-मारी-कृतम्: made into a great plague
• महा-मारी-कृतम्: विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मारी (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘made into/turned into a great plague’ (विशेषण)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उपद्रवम्: calamity, affliction
• उपद्रवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपद्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षय-हेतुकम्: causing destruction; having destruction as its cause/effect
• क्षय-हेतुकम्: विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण उपद्रवम् इति

• चुकोप: became enraged
• चुकोप: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कुप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘became angry’

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सनद्धः: armed, equipped
• सनद्धः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + नह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘armed/armoured’

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘became’

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (reflexive adverb)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays adharma as a “plague-like” upadrava that leads to kṣaya (ruin). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, Shiva’s fierce readiness signifies compassionate protection: the Lord removes destructive forces that bind beings (pāśa) and restores dharma so souls may progress toward liberation.

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

It highlights Saguna Shiva—the Lord with attributes—who actively intervenes in the world. Linga-worship remembers Shiva as both transcendent and immanent: the unchanging Linga is the inner refuge while the Lord’s manifest power counters chaos and safeguards devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In times of “upadrava,” take refuge in Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steadying practices like applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Shiva as the remover of calamity and protector of dharma.