Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

क्षणेन चेतनां प्राप्य स चोत्तस्थौ प्रतापवान् । न चक्रे बाहु युद्धं च मातृबुद्ध्या तया सह

Transliteration

kṣaṇena cetanāṃ prāpya sa cottasthau pratāpavān | na cakre bāhu yuddhaṃ ca mātṛbuddhyā tayā saha

Translation

Im Nu gewann er das Bewusstsein zurück, und der Mächtige erhob sich. Doch da er sie mit dem Empfinden einer Mutter betrachtete, begann er keinen Nahkampf mit ihr.

Word by Word

• क्षणेन: in a moment
• क्षणेन: Kāla/Adhikarana (काल/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; काल-करण—‘in/within a moment’

• चेतनाम्: consciousness
• चेतनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘consciousness’

• प्राप्य: having regained
• प्राप्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having regained/obtained’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘he’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• उत्तस्थौ: rose up
• उत्तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘stood up/rose’

• प्रतापवान्: mighty
• प्रतापवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गुणवाचक—‘mighty/valiant’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• चक्रे: did
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘did/made’

• बाहुयुद्धम्: hand-to-hand fight
• बाहुयुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु-युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक: बाहु + युद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—बाहुभिः युद्धम्/बाहुना युद्धम्; ‘arm-to-arm fight’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• मातृबुद्ध्या: out of motherly regard
• मातृबुद्ध्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ-बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक: मातृ + बुद्धि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मातुः बुद्धिः/मातृवद् बुद्धिः; हेतु/भाव—‘with the notion (that she is) a mother’

• तया: with her
• तया: Sahakarana (सह-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘with her’

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (postposition/adverb: together with)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharma as inner mastery: even when power returns, the truly valorous restrains violence when reverence is due. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such self-control purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa) by reducing anger and cruelty.

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

Saguna Shiva is worshiped as the embodiment of dharma and compassion; this verse mirrors that ideal—strength guided by discernment. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see Shiva’s presence in all beings, supporting restraint and respect rather than impulsive harm.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cool anger and steady the mind before action; pairing it with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) remembrance reinforces purity and self-governance in moments of conflict.