Shloka 1

तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । देवदेव गुह स्वामिञ्शांकरे पार्वतीसुत । न शोभते रणो विष्णु तारकासुरयोर्वृथा

Transliteration

brahmovāca | devadeva guha svāmiñśāṃkare pārvatīsuta | na śobhate raṇo viṣṇu tārakāsurayorvṛthā

Translation

Brahmā said: “O Guha, Lord among gods—O master, born of Śaṅkara and son of Pārvatī—this battle between Viṣṇu and Tārakāsura is not becoming; it is futile.”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• देव-देव: O god of gods
• देव-देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘देवानां देवः’)

• गुह: O Guha (Skanda)
• गुह: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (स्कन्द-नाम)

• स्वामिन्: O lord
• स्वामिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शांकरे: O Śāṅkara (connected with Śaṅkara)
• शांकरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शांकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; ‘शंकर-सम्बन्धी’ (epithet)

• पार्वती-सुत: O son of Pārvatī
• पार्वती-सुत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वती (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पार्वत्याः सुतः)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• शोभते: is fitting / shines
• शोभते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• रणः: battle
• रणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णु: O Viṣṇu
• विष्णु: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• तारक-असुरयोः: of Tāraka and the demon
• तारक-असुरयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तारकः असुरः) + द्विवचन-षष्ठी (‘of Tāraka and the Asura’)

• वृथा: in vain
• वृथा: Kriyavisheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in vain/without purpose’)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kartikeya
• Shiva
• Parvati
• Vishnu
• Tarakasura

FAQs

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

It highlights that conflict driven by limited power or ego is “vṛthā” (vain); in Shaiva Siddhanta, true victory comes when actions align with Pati (Śiva) and dharma, not merely with might.

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

By calling Guha “Śāṅkare” and “Pārvatīsuta,” the verse centers divine agency in Śiva’s family and grace; devotion to Saguna Śiva (as Linga and as the Lord who manifests Skanda) is implied as the effective refuge beyond futile struggles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pacify inner warfare through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and a Rudrākṣa mala, cultivating surrender so actions are not “vṛthā.”