Shloka 56

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

पुनरायान्महावीरस्सिन्धुपुत्रो महाहवम् । जघानास्त्रैश्च विविधैस्सुरान्कृत्वा बलं महत्

Transliteration

punarāyānmahāvīrassindhuputro mahāhavam | jaghānāstraiśca vividhaissurānkṛtvā balaṃ mahat

Translation

Then the great hero—the son of Sindhu—advanced again into the mighty battle. Mustering vast force, he struck down the gods with many kinds of missiles.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय; adverb

• आयात्: came, returned
• आयात्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg past

• महावीरः: the great hero
• महावीरः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावीर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + वीर)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• सिन्धुपुत्रः: the son of Sindhu
• सिन्धुपुत्रः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिन्धु-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): सिन्धोः पुत्रः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाहवम्: the great battle
• महाहवम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव (प्रातिपदिक: महा + हव)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• जघान: struck down, slew
• जघान: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd sg perfect

• अस्त्रैः: with weapons
• अस्त्रैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय; conjunction

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agrees with अस्त्रैः

• सुरान्: the gods
• सुरान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Accusative plural

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: कृ

• बलम्: strength, force
• बलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with बलम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Sindhuputra

FAQs

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

It portrays how worldly power and martial prowess can overwhelm even the devas, reminding the seeker that true protection and victory ultimately rest in alignment with Pati (Śiva) beyond mere force—transforming the inner “battlefield” through devotion and right understanding.

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

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context, external battles mirror inner conflicts; Saguna Śiva (worshipped as the Liṅga) is approached as the stabilizing Lord who grants steadiness (dhairya) and discernment, so the devotee does not rely solely on ‘bala’ (strength) but on Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical takeaway, one may steady the mind in conflict by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and adopt Śaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to subdue the asuric impulses (anger, pride) rather than merely fighting outwardly.