Shloka 12

Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories

Battle Muster and Omens

Devanagari script

हयाश्च ह्रेषन्त उदग्रभूमिजा विशालकण्ठाभरणा गतेर्विदः । पदानि दन्तावलमूर्ध्नि बिभ्रतः सुडिड्यिरे व्योमपथा यथाऽवयः

Transliteration

hayāśca hreṣanta udagrabhūmijā viśālakaṇṭhābharaṇā gatervidaḥ | padāni dantāvalamūrdhni bibhrataḥ suḍiḍyire vyomapathā yathā'vayaḥ

Translation

Die Pferde wieherten laut, voll Elan und hoch ausschreitend, mit breiten Halszierden geschmückt und kundig in schneller Bewegung. Ihre Hufspuren auf den Häuptern der Elefantenschar tragend, schossen sie den Himmelsweg dahin wie Vögel.

Word by Word

• हयाः: horses
• हयाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ह्रेषन्त: neighed
• ह्रेषन्त: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ह्रेष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• उदग्रभूमिजाः: born of lofty/raised ground
• उदग्रभूमिजाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of हयाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमिज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• विशालकण्ठाभरणाः: having ornaments on broad necks
• विशालकण्ठाभरणाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of हयाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गतेः: of speed/motion
• गतेः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विदः: knowers
• विदः: विशेषण (Qualifier of हयाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘विद्’ = जानन्/ज्ञाता)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पदानि: steps/footprints
• पदानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दन्तावलमूर्ध्नि: on the head of the elephant
• दन्तावलमूर्ध्नि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्तावल (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• बिभ्रतः: of (those) bearing/carrying
• बिभ्रतः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive; ‘of those bearing’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपद; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन

• सुडिड्यिरे: whirred/shot forth
• सुडिड्यिरे: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: डिड्यि/डिड्य् (धातु; onomatopoetic ‘to whirr/flash’)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद

• व्योमपथाः: sky-paths (tracks in the sky)
• व्योमपथाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्योम (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: उपमान-निर्देश (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative indeclinable)

• अवयः: birds
• अवयः: उपमान (Upamāna/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

Though descriptive, the verse highlights the overwhelming momentum of worldly conflict and power; in Shaiva Siddhanta this serves as a contrast to the inner refuge in Pati (Shiva), who alone grants steadiness and liberation beyond the turbulence of battle-like samsara.

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

The verse belongs to narrative imagery (saguṇa, form-filled depiction). Such passages encourage devotees to see all dynamism and victory as ultimately dependent on Shiva’s lordship (Pati), while Linga-worship centers the mind on the stable, transcendent reality (nirguṇa) expressed through a sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate steadiness amid agitation by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna on the Shiva-Linga, supported by simple Shaiva observances like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to recollection.