Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency

Devanagari script

शरावारप्रयुक्तैस्तैर्वज्रपातैर्नगा इव । प्रमथा नेशिरे चास्त्रैर्निस्तोया इव तोयदाः

Transliteration

śarāvāraprayuktaistairvajrapātairnagā iva | pramathā neśire cāstrairnistoyā iva toyadāḥ

Translation

Von jenen in Salven geschleuderten, blitzgleichen Schlägen getroffen, vermochten die Pramathas dem Ansturm der Waffen nicht standzuhalten — wie Berge, die vom Donnerkeil getroffen werden, oder wie Regenwolken, denen das Wasser entzogen ist.

Word by Word

• शर-अवार-प्रयुक्तैः: by those employed (missiles) of arrows and avāra
• शर-अवार-प्रयुक्तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + अवार (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (निर्धारण/उपपद) — ‘शरावारैः प्रयुक्त’ = arrows-and-‘avāra’ weapons employed/shot

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• वज्रपातैः: by thunderbolt-strikes
• वज्रपातैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष — ‘वज्रस्य पातः’ (thunderbolt-like strikes)

• नगाः: mountains
• नगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• प्रमथाः: the Pramathas
• प्रमथाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• नेशिरे: perished
• नेशिरे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्/नश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; अर्थ: नश् = नश्यति (perish)

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

• अस्त्रैः: by weapons
• अस्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• निस्तोयाः: waterless
• निस्तोयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि — ‘येषां तोयं नास्ति’ (waterless)

• इव: like
• इव: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक

• तोयदाः: clouds (water-givers)
• तोयदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; तोयद = मेघ (cloud)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Pramathas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the overwhelming force of divinely empowered astras and the limits of even mighty beings when confronted with higher śakti. In Shaiva understanding, power in creation is effective only insofar as it aligns with the Lord’s cosmic order (dharma upheld by Pati).

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

Yuddha episodes portray Saguna Śiva’s governance through his gaṇas (like the Pramathas). For devotees, the Liṅga is the stable focus of worship amid such cosmic turbulence—reminding that the Lord who appears in action (saguna) is also the transcendent refuge beyond all conflict.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and maintaining purity with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and surrender to Śiva’s will.