Shloka 3

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

निशुंभः कार्तिकेयस्य मयूरं पंचभिश्शरैः । हृदि विव्याध वेगेन मूर्छितस्स पपात ह

Transliteration

niśuṃbhaḥ kārtikeyasya mayūraṃ paṃcabhiśśaraiḥ | hṛdi vivyādha vegena mūrchitassa papāta ha

Translation

Niśumbha swiftly pierced Kārtikeya’s peacock in the heart with five arrows; and that mount, stunned into faintness, fell to the ground.

Word by Word

• निशुम्भः: Niśumbha
• निशुम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कार्तिकेयस्य: of Kārttikeya
• कार्तिकेयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मयूरम्: peacock
• मयूरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (qualifying ‘शरैः’)

• शरैः: arrows
• शरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

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

• वेगेन: with force/speed
• वेगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मूर्छितः: fainted
• मूर्छितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूर्छ् (धातु) → मूर्छित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि—‘having fainted’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पपात: fell
• पपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Niśumbha
• Kartikeya
• Mayura (Kartikeya's peacock mount)

FAQs

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

The verse depicts how even the divine forces in Shiva’s cosmic order face intense opposition; the demon’s strike symbolizes the assault of tamas and arrogance upon dharma, yet the Shaiva narrative emphasizes that such shocks are temporary and ultimately overcome under Shiva’s governance (pati) of the cosmos.

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

Though the scene is martial, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion by showing Shiva’s śakti expressed through his divine hosts (like Skanda/Kārtikeya). Remembering these leelas strengthens faith that the Lord’s manifested powers protect devotees and restore dharma—an attitude carried into Linga worship as surrender to Shiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during adversity, cultivating fearlessness and composure; pairing it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance or Rudrākṣa japa aligns the mind with Shiva’s protective grace.