Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि चान्यानि चिच्छेद दानवेश्वरः । प्राप्तानि पूर्वतश्चक्रे शतखंडानि तानि च

Transliteration

divyānyastrāṇi cānyāni ciccheda dānaveśvaraḥ | prāptāni pūrvataścakre śatakhaṃḍāni tāni ca

Translation

Der Herr der Dānavas zerschnitt jene göttlichen Waffen und andere Geschosse. Und sobald sie auf ihn zukamen, machte er sie sogleich zu hundert Splittern.

Word by Word

• दिव्यानि: divine
• दिव्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural qualifying astrāṇi

• अस्त्राणि: weapons/missiles
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural qualifying astrāṇi

• चिच्छेद: cut asunder
• चिच्छेद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• दानवेश्वरः: lord of the Dānavas
• दानवेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानवेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; दानव + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• प्राप्तानि: obtained/that had come
• प्राप्तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Past passive participle used adjectivally

• पूर्वतः: previously/at first
• पूर्वतः: Kāla/Adverbial (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वतः (अव्यय; पूर्व + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time/sequence)

• चक्रे: made/did
• चक्रे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शतखण्डानि: into a hundred pieces
• शतखण्डानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतखण्ड (प्रातिपदिक; शत + खण्ड)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural (result state)

• तानि: those (weapons)
• तानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Pronoun referring to astrāṇi

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Dānaveśvara

FAQs

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

It highlights the futility of mere force and weaponry when driven by ego and hostility; in Shaiva thought, true victory comes from alignment with Shiva (Pati) rather than reliance on external powers (pāśa).

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

The battle imagery points to Saguna Shiva’s governance over all powers: even “divine” astras are limited, while Shiva’s lordship is absolute. Linga-worship trains the devotee to seek refuge in that supreme reality rather than in transient might.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to restrain anger and cultivate steadiness through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and regular Tripuṇḍra/bhasma remembrance, converting aggressive impulses into disciplined devotion.