Shloka 18

Devanagari script

एवंभूतं च तत्सैन्यं लोकक्षयकरं महत् । दृष्ट्वा च विस्मितास्सर्वे बभूवुरमरादयः

Transliteration

evaṃbhūtaṃ ca tatsainyaṃ lokakṣayakaraṃ mahat | dṛṣṭvā ca vismitāssarve babhūvuramarādayaḥ

Translation

Seeing that vast army—so formidable that it could bring about the destruction of the worlds—all the gods and other celestial beings were filled with astonishment.

Word by Word

• एवं-भूतम्: such; of that kind
• एवं-भूतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय) + भूत (भू धातु, क्त/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावसमासः (such-become/being thus) विशेषणम् (qualifying सैन्यम्)

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

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सैन्यम्)

• सैन्यम्: army; host
• सैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• लोक-क्षय-करम्: world-destroying
• लोक-क्षय-करम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—लोकक्षयकर (causing destruction of the worlds) विशेषणम् (qualifying सैन्यम्)

• महत्: great; huge
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सैन्यम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), “having seen”

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

• विस्मिताः: astonished
• विस्मिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त from स्मि/स्मय्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying सर्वे/अमरादयः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषण used substantively

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अमर-आदयः: the gods and others
• अमर-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to सर्वे)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—अमरादि (the immortals and others; “gods etc.”)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: lokakṣaya-prāya (world-threatening martial mobilization)

Characters & Entities

• Devas (Amaras)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the limits of even the devas when confronted with world-shaking power, pointing to the Shaiva Siddhanta insight that Pati (Shiva) alone is ultimately sovereign, while other powers remain contingent within cosmic order.

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

Awe and astonishment before overwhelming divine force prepares the devotee for Saguna Shiva-upasana—approaching Shiva as the accessible Lord whose manifested power protects dharma and dissolves arrogance; Linga worship centers this surrender and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate humility and refuge through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady remembrance of Shiva’s lordship, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids to focused devotion.