Shloka 14

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

गणेशस्तु तदा शुंभं हृदि विव्याध पत्रिणा । सारथिं च त्रिभिर्बाणैः पातयामास भूतले

Transliteration

gaṇeśastu tadā śuṃbhaṃ hṛdi vivyādha patriṇā | sārathiṃ ca tribhirbāṇaiḥ pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Translation

Then Gaṇeśa pierced Śumbha in the heart with a feathered arrow, and with three arrows he struck down the charioteer to the ground.

Word by Word

• गणेशः: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक-अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• शुंभम्: Śumbha
• शुंभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विव्याध: pierced
• विव्याध: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पत्रिणा: with an arrow
• पत्रिणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; 'पत्रिन्' = बाणः (arrow)

• सारथिम्: the charioteer
• सारथिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• बाणैः: arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पातयामास: caused to fall; felled
• पातयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Periphrastic Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative) = 'caused to fall'

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Shumbha

FAQs

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

It portrays Gaṇeśa as Shiva’s śakti-backed protector who removes obstructive, adharmic forces; the “piercing of the heart” symbolizes cutting through the core of ego and hostility that opposes dharma and devotion.

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

Gaṇeśa’s victory functions as the grace of Saguna Shiva’s family—devotees approach Shiva’s worship with Gaṇeśa first, seeking obstacle-removal so Linga-pūjā and Shiva-bhakti proceed without impediments.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin Shiva worship with Gaṇeśa-prārthanā (Gaṇapati dhyāna/namaskāra) and then japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner focus to ‘strike down’ distractions and negative impulses.