Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

पर्वतानां च सर्पाणां नागानां शाखिनां तथा । राजा चकार वृष्टिं च दुर्निवार्या भयंकरीम्

Transliteration

parvatānāṃ ca sarpāṇāṃ nāgānāṃ śākhināṃ tathā | rājā cakāra vṛṣṭiṃ ca durnivāryā bhayaṃkarīm

Translation

Daraufhin entfachte der König einen Regensturm—unwiderstehlich und furchterregend—der Berge, Schlangen, Nāgas und sogar die Bäume traf.

Word by Word

• parvatānām: of mountains
• parvatānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• sarpāṇām: of serpents
• sarpāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nāgānām: of nāgas
• nāgānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• śākhinām: of trees (branch-bearing ones)
• śākhinām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya/Adverbial (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘likewise/also’

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• cakāra: made/caused
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• vṛṣṭim: a rain/shower
• vṛṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• durnivāryām: irresistible
• durnivāryām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur + nivārya (कृदन्त; √vṛ/√vār ‘to restrain’ in caus./denom sense)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); नञ्/दुर्-पूर्वक (with dur-), ‘hard to restrain’

• bhayaṃkarīm: terrifying
• bhayaṃkarīm: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhayaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: भयम् + कर (making fear)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• King

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the overwhelming force of karmic and cosmic reactions within a battle narrative—worldly sovereignty can unleash fearsome power, yet in Shaiva thought such forces remain within Māyā and are ultimately surpassed by refuge in Pati (Shiva).

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

Yuddha-kathā (battle narrative) underscores the instability of external power; Saguna Shiva as the Linga is the steady refuge amid fear and upheaval, reminding devotees to seek Shiva’s grace rather than rely on coercive might.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical takeaway, one may steady the mind in turmoil by japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and remembrance of Shiva as the protector, along with simple Tripuṇḍra-bhasma application as a daily discipline.