Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

शिवशङ्खचूडयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa

Devanagari script

कोपाध्मातश्शंखचूडश्चक्रं चिक्षेप दानवः । मुष्टिपातेन तच्चाप्यचूर्णयत्सहसा हरः

Transliteration

kopādhmātaśśaṃkhacūḍaścakraṃ cikṣepa dānavaḥ | muṣṭipātena taccāpyacūrṇayatsahasā haraḥ

Translation

Vom Zorn entflammt schleuderte der Dämon Śaṅkhacūḍa ein Diskusrad (Cakra). Doch Hara (Herr Śiva) zerschmetterte es mit einem jähen Faustschlag augenblicklich zu Staub.

Word by Word

• कोप-आध्मातः: swollen with anger
• कोप-आध्मातः: विशेषण (Qualifier of शंखचूडः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + आध्मात (कृदन्त; √ध्मा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (sense: 'inflated/swollen with anger')

• शंखचूडः: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शंखचूडः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंखचूड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दानवः: the demon
• दानवः: कर्ता (Kartā; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; शंखचूडस्य विशेषणरूपेण अपि

• मुष्टि-पातेन: with a blow of the fist
• मुष्टि-पातेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('fist-blow')

• तत्: that (discus)
• तत्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• अचूर्णयत्: pulverized
• अचूर्णयत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चूर्णय् (धातु; चूर्णयति)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सहसा: suddenly, forcefully
• सहसा: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (suddenly/forcibly)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankhachuda

FAQs

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

It shows Hara as the supreme Pati whose mere will and effortless power shatters hostile forces—symbolizing the destruction of ego and violence when one turns toward Śiva.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s active grace in the world: the same Lord worshiped in the Liṅga manifests as Hara to protect dharma and dissolve the devotee’s fear and inner enemies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva as Hara while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and cultivating inner steadiness that ‘crushes’ anger and pride like the shattered discus.