Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces

Devanagari script

भेरुंडजानाभिनयप्रवृत्ते मेदोवसामांससुपूयमध्ये । क्रव्यादसंघातसमाकुले तु भयंकरे शोणितकर्दमे तु

Transliteration

bheruṃḍajānābhinayapravṛtte medovasāmāṃsasupūyamadhye | kravyādasaṃghātasamākule tu bhayaṃkare śoṇitakardame tu

Translation

Dort, wo schreckliche Wesen und Aasfresser geschäftig ihr Spiel trieben—mitten in Fett, Talg, Fleisch und stinkendem Eiter—gedrängt von Schwärmen der Fleischfresser, wurde das Schlachtfeld furchtbar, ein Morast aus Blut.

Word by Word

• bheruṇḍa-jāna-abhinaya-pravṛtte: in (a place) filled with the acting/gestures of bheruṇḍa-creatures
• bheruṇḍa-jāna-abhinaya-pravṛtte: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bheruṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + jāna (प्रातिपदिक) + abhinaya (प्रातिपदिक) + pravṛtta (प्र-वृत्-धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग? (अधिकरण-विशेषणरूपे), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः: भेरुण्डजानानाम् अभिनयः तस्मिन् प्रवृत्ते (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष)

• medaḥ-vasā-māṃsa-su-pūya-madhye: in the midst of fat, marrow, flesh, and foul pus
• medaḥ-vasā-māṃsa-su-pūya-madhye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medas (प्रातिपदिक) + vasā (प्रातिपदिक) + māṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + pūya (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः: मेदः-वासामांस-सुपूयानां मध्ये (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/बहुपद)

• kravyāda-saṃghāta-samākule: crowded with packs of flesh-eaters
• kravyāda-saṃghāta-samākule: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kravyāda (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃghāta (प्रातिपदिक) + samākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग? सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः: क्रव्यादानां संघातेन समाकुले (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)

• tu: and/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• bhayaṃkare: in the terrifying (place)
• bhayaṃkare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhayaṃ-kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग? सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः: भयं करोति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• śoṇita-kardame: in the mire of blood
• śoṇita-kardame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śoṇita (प्रातिपदिक) + kardama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः: शोणितस्य कर्दमे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-निदर्शनार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

FAQs

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

By depicting the battlefield as a blood-mire filled with carrion and decay, the Purana evokes vairāgya (dispassion) and reminds the seeker that worldly power ends in impermanence; refuge is found in Pati (Śiva), the Lord beyond death, who grants steadiness and liberation.

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

The horror of the scene highlights the contrast between saṃsāra’s instability and Śiva’s auspicious presence. In Shaiva practice, turning the mind from such fearful transience toward the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna support for meditation) stabilizes devotion and leads inward to the Nirguṇa reality of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to steady the mind amid fear, along with maintaining Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance). If following Shaiva observances, one may also apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and surrender to Śiva.