Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

सा युद्धभूमिं तरसा ससाद मुनिसत्तम । विचचार महाभीमा भक्षयंती महासुरान्

Transliteration

sā yuddhabhūmiṃ tarasā sasāda munisattama | vicacāra mahābhīmā bhakṣayaṃtī mahāsurān

Translation

O best of sages, she swiftly rushed onto the battlefield. Terrible in her might, she moved about there, devouring the great demons (asuras).

Word by Word

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युद्ध-भूमिम्: the battlefield
• युद्ध-भूमिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('battlefield')

• तरसा: with speed; swiftly
• तरसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; adverbial instrumental ('with speed')

• ससाद: reached; approached
• ससाद: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मुनि-सत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('best among sages')

• विचचार: wandered about; moved around
• विचचार: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• महा-भीमा: very fearsome
• महा-भीमा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ('very terrible'), agrees with सा

• भक्षयन्ती: devouring; eating
• भक्षयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भक्ष् (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त (Present active participle, शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; simultaneous action with main verb

• महा-असुरान्: great demons
• महा-असुरान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Plural); कर्मधारय ('great demons')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Asuras

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shakti acting as Shiva’s divine power that annihilates asuric forces—symbolically the ego, ignorance, and binding impurities (pāśa) that obstruct the soul’s (paśu) return to the Lord (Pati).

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

In Saguna worship, Shiva is adored with attributes and divine acts; this battle scene supports the devotee’s faith that the Lord, together with Shakti, actively protects dharma and removes obstacles, which is remembered while worshiping the Shiva-Linga as the stable center of refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on protection through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualizing Shiva-Shakti dissolving inner asuric tendencies; offer bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and maintain steady devotion (bhakti) as a daily discipline.