Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

अथोऽभज्यत दैत्यानां सेना गणभयार्दिता । वायुवेगहता यद्वत्प्रकीर्णा तृणसंहतिः

Transliteration

atho'bhajyata daityānāṃ senā gaṇabhayārditā | vāyuvegahatā yadvatprakīrṇā tṛṇasaṃhatiḥ

Translation

Then the army of the Daityas, tormented by fear of Śiva’s gaṇas, broke apart and scattered—just as a mass of dry grass is dispersed when struck by a swift, forceful wind.

Word by Word

अथthen

उindeed, surely

अभज्यतwas broken, was shattered

दैत्यानाम्of the demons

सेनाarmy

गण-भय-आर्दिताafflicted by fear of the Gaṇas

वायु-वेग-हताstruck by the force of wind

यद्वत्just as

प्रकीर्णाscattered

तृण-संहतिःa mass/heap of grass

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Gaṇas

Daityas

FAQs

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

It depicts how adharma collapses when confronted by the Lord’s power: the “Daitya army” symbolizes inner arrogance and violence, which scatter when true fear of wrongdoing and reverence for Śiva’s order (the gaṇas) arises—an image aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta where Pati’s grace breaks the bonds of the pashu.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s protective governance: as the Lord upholds dharma through His gaṇas, devotees approach the Śiva-liṅga seeking refuge and purification, trusting that the Lord’s manifest power can disperse hostile forces—outer or inner—like wind scattering grass.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s protection—cultivating fearlessness through devotion while letting “daitya” impulses scatter rather than consolidate.