Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra

Devanagari script

संहर्तुं सर्वब्रह्माडमवलंब्य च लीलया । संस्थितं परमं तत्र एकत्रीभूय विज्वलत्

Transliteration

saṃhartuṃ sarvabrahmāḍamavalaṃbya ca līlayā | saṃsthitaṃ paramaṃ tatra ekatrībhūya vijvalat

Translation

Um das ganze „kosmische Ei“ (Brahmāṇḍa) aufzulösen, ergriff jene höchste Wirklichkeit, nur im göttlichen Spiel, das gesamte Universum und, dort zu einer einzigen Masse vereint, loderte sie in strahlendem Glanz auf.

Word by Word

• संहर्तुम्: to destroy/withdraw
• संहर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive); क्रियार्थ (purpose)

• सर्वब्रह्माण्डम्: the entire cosmos (Brahmāṇḍa)
• सर्वब्रह्माण्डम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ब्रह्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वं ब्रह्माण्डम्)

• अवलम्ब्य: having supported/leaned on
• अवलम्ब्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-लम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकाल (having done)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• लीलया: playfully / as a sport
• लीलया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• संस्थितम्: situated/established
• संस्थितम्: अवस्था/विशेषण (State/descriptor)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (here predicate/descriptor)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to संस्थितम्/implicit entity)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• एकत्रीभूय: having become united/collected into one
• एकत्रीभूय: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial; manner/prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: एकत्री-भू (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); 'एकत्रीभू' = to become one/collected

• विज्वलत्: blazing brightly
• विज्वलत्: विशेषण (Descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mahapralaya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to Shiva as the Supreme (Pati) whose power of saṃhāra is effortless and playful (līlā), teaching that the universe is dependent on Him and ultimately returns to Him, guiding the devotee toward detachment and liberation.

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

The blazing, gathered-oneness imagery aligns with Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Linga as the condensed symbol of the Supreme—through which devotees contemplate the One Reality that supports and withdraws the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the all-containing Light (tejas) while chanting the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, if practicing Shaiva rites, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and the certainty of dissolution.