Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

महाप्रभुर्नैरृतेन पाशी सह बलेन च । सुवीरो वायुना सार्धं पवमानेन गुह्यराट्

Transliteration

mahāprabhurnairṛtena pāśī saha balena ca | suvīro vāyunā sārdhaṃ pavamānena guhyarāṭ

Translation

Mahāprabhu, the mighty Lord, went forth with Nairṛta; Pāśī moved together with Bala. Suvīra advanced with Vāyu and Pavamāna, and Guhyarāṭ, king of the Guhyakas, likewise took his place. Thus the divine attendants assembled in ordered ranks for the Lord’s purpose.

Word by Word

• महाप्रभुः: the great lord (Mahāprabhu)
• महाप्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् प्रभुः)

• नैरृतेन: with Nairṛta
• नैरृतेन: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• पाशी: the noose-bearer
• पाशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणवत् नाम (one who has a noose)

• सह: with
• सह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (together with)

• बलेन: with force/strength
• बलेन: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुवीरः: Suvīra (the very brave one)
• सुवीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—कर्मधारयः (सु-वीरः = very heroic)

• वायुनā: with Vāyu (Wind-god)
• वायुनā: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/association)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable meaning 'together with')

• पवमानेन: with Pavamāna
• पवमानेन: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवमान (प्रातिपदिक; शतृ from पू/पव् 'to blow/purify')
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular); नामरूपेण (as an epithet/name of wind)

• गुह्यराट्: king of the Guhyakas (Kubera)
• गुह्यराट्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य + राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुह्यानां राट् = king of the Guhyakas)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Mahāprabhu
• Nairṛta
• Pāśī
• Bala
• Suvīra
• Vāyu
• Pavamāna
• Guhyarāṭ

FAQs

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

The verse portrays divinities and personified powers assembling in disciplined harmony, implying that all forces—directional, elemental, and subtle—ultimately operate under the Lord’s sovereignty (Pati), guiding the cosmos toward order and liberation.

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

As Saguna Shiva, the Lord is shown as the organizer of divine functions and protectors; Linga-worship meditates on this same Lord as the immanent controller of all energies, while also pointing beyond form to the supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating the elements and directions being purified and aligned under Shiva—supporting inner steadiness, protection, and devotion.