Shloka 11

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

अथ नन्दीश्वरो वीरः कालनेमिं महासुरम् । तमपास्य च शूलेन वक्षस्यभ्यहनद्दृढम्

Transliteration

atha nandīśvaro vīraḥ kālanemiṃ mahāsuram | tamapāsya ca śūlena vakṣasyabhyahanaddṛḍham

Translation

Then the heroic Nandīśvara, evading the great demon Kālanemi, struck him firmly in the chest with his trident.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमसूचक/अनन्तरार्थक (indeclinable; sequential particle: 'then')

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara (Nandi)
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• वीरः: the hero/brave one
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of नन्दीश्वरः)

• कालनेमिम्: Kālanemi
• कालनेमिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालनेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• महासुरम्: the great demon
• महासुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: महा + असुर (a great asura)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपास्य: having cast aside/removed
• अपास्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + अस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); अर्थ: 'having thrown aside/removed'

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

• शूलेन: with a trident/spear
• शूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन

• वक्षसि: in/on the chest
• वक्षसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• अभ्यहनत्: struck/smote
• अभ्यहनत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन

• दृढम्: firmly/strongly
• दृढम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial use of adjective); क्रियाविशेषण (intensifier)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Nandīśvara
• Kālanemi

FAQs

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

Nandīśvara’s decisive strike symbolizes how Śiva’s grace and dharmic power overcome adharma: the devotee aligned with Pati (Śiva) becomes a force that removes obstructive, egoic asuric tendencies.

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

Though the scene is martial, it points to Saguna Śiva’s active protection of devotees: worship of the Liṅga is devotion to the same Lord whose śakti manifests as guardians like Nandīśvara to uphold cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steadiness (dṛḍhatā) in japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while mentally offering one’s inner ‘asuric’ impulses into Śiva’s purifying power (often supported by Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa in Shaiva practice).