Shloka 31

राहोर्विमोचनानन्तरं जलन्धरस्य सैन्योद्योगः — Rahu’s Aftermath and Jalandhara’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

मया कृतो रणस्तेन चिरं देवान्वितेन वै । मदुपायो न प्रवृत्तस्तस्मिन्दानवपुंगवे

Transliteration

mayā kṛto raṇastena ciraṃ devānvitena vai | madupāyo na pravṛttastasmindānavapuṃgave

Translation

I waged war with that mighty one for a long time indeed—he being upheld by the gods. Yet my stratagem did not prevail against that foremost of the Dānavas.

Word by Word

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; (by me)

• कृतः: made/done
• कृतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (done/made)

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

• तेन: by/with him
• तेन: Sahakāraka (सह/साधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (by him/with him)

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण); (for a long time)

• देव-अन्वितेन: accompanied by the gods
• देव-अन्वितेन: Sahakāraka (सह/साधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (accompanied by the gods)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• मत्-उपायः: my strategy/means
• मत्-उपायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध) + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (my means/strategy)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• प्रवृत्तः: was set in motion / took effect
• प्रवृत्तः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वृत् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (set in motion/occurred)

• तस्मिन्: in him/there
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; (in him/therein)

• दानव-पुंगवे: O foremost of demons
• दानव-पुंगवे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे सप्तमी (addressed as ‘in/with respect to’); (in the bull/foremost among demons)

Speaker

A Daitya/Dānava leader (narrating his failed strategy in the battle episode, as relayed by Sūta)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Dānava

FAQs

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

It highlights the limitation of mere human or demonic “upāya” (strategy) when driven by pride and opposition to dharma; in Shaiva understanding, lasting victory comes through alignment with Pati (Śiva) and righteous order, not through force alone.

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

The verse contrasts external power with inner grounding; worship of Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga trains the mind toward humility and dependence on divine grace, which is presented in the Purāṇa as the true support beyond alliances and tactics.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a humble sankalpa, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to restrain ego and act in dharma.