Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

पादप्रहारैरशनिप्रकाशैरुन्मथ्य सैन्यानि निशाचराणाम् । मार्तंडकोटिप्रतिमेन पश्चात्सुदर्शनेनाद्भुतचंडतेजाः

Transliteration

pādaprahārairaśaniprakāśairunmathya sainyāni niśācarāṇām | mārtaṃḍakoṭipratimena paścātsudarśanenādbhutacaṃḍatejāḥ

Translation

Mit Fußschlägen, die wie Donnerkeile aufblitzten, wühlte er die Heere der Nachtwandler auf und zerschlug sie; und dann streckte er sie mit dem Sudarśana, dem Diskus von wundersam wildem Glanz, gleich zehn Millionen Sonnen, nieder.

Word by Word

• पाद-प्रहारैः: with foot-strikes
• पाद-प्रहारैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘पादेन प्रहारैः’)

• अशनि-प्रकाशैः: shining like lightning
• अशनि-प्रकाशैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (‘अशनेः प्रकाश इव’ = lightning-bright); विशेषण (of ‘प्रहारैः’)

• उन्मथ्य: having thrown into turmoil
• उन्मथ्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-मथ् (धातु) → उन्मथ्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having churned up/overturned’

• सैन्यानि: armies
• सैन्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• निशाचराणाम्: of the night-roamers (demons)
• निशाचराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशाचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• मार्तण्ड-कोटि-प्रतिमेन: with (splendor) comparable to ten million suns
• मार्तण्ड-कोटि-प्रतिमेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मार्तण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (‘मार्तण्डानां कोट्या प्रतिमः’ = comparable to ten million suns); विशेषण (instrumental of comparison)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘afterwards/then’)

• सुदर्शनेन: with Sudarśana (discus/weapon)
• सुदर्शनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; (weapon-name)

• अद्भुत-चण्ड-तेजाः: (he) of wondrous, fierce radiance
• अद्भुत-चण्ड-तेजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (बहुविशेषण: ‘अद्भुतं चण्डं तेजो यस्य’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: solar hyperbole (mārtaṇḍa-koṭi) as a cosmic-scale radiance motif

Characters & Entities

• Sudarshana
• Niśācaras (demons/night-roamers)

FAQs

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

The “night-roamers” symbolize tamas—ignorance, fear, and destructive tendencies. The blazing, sun-like divine weapon signifies the awakening of Shiva’s grace and higher consciousness that dispels inner darkness and restores dharma.

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

Though the scene is martial, it points to Saguna Shiva’s protective aspect: the Lord actively removes obstacles for devotees. Linga-worship trains the mind to hold steadily to Shiva as the supreme refuge, from whom this protective power arises.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as the destroyer of inner tamas while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that ego and fear are to be reduced to ash in Shiva’s light.