Shloka 55

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

तान्दृष्ट्वा विकलान्रुद्रः पप्रच्छ इति कुशलं प्रभुः । यथावत्ते गणा वृत्तं समाचख्युश्च विस्तरात्

Transliteration

tāndṛṣṭvā vikalānrudraḥ papraccha iti kuśalaṃ prabhuḥ | yathāvatte gaṇā vṛttaṃ samācakhyuśca vistarāt

Translation

Seeing them distressed and weakened, Rudra—the Lord—asked after their welfare. Then his gaṇas related to him, exactly as it had happened, the entire account in detail.

Word by Word

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal form (अव्ययभाव)

• vikalān: distressed/disabled
• vikalān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies tān (gaṇān understood)

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• papraccha: asked
• papraccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• kuśalam: welfare/safety
• kuśalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); object of papraccha

• prabhuḥ: the lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to rudraḥ

• yathāvat: properly/in due manner
• yathāvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• te: to him
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• gaṇāḥ: the gaṇas/attendants
• gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vṛttam: what happened/the account
• vṛttam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• samācakhyuḥ: reported/told
• samācakhyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• vistarāt: in detail
• vistarāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial ablative ‘in detail’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the events to the sages; the quoted action is by Lord Rudra/Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who compassionately checks the state of his attendants and then hears the truthful account—emphasizing divine guardianship and the importance of honest narration of dharma and adharma.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—Rudra as a personal Lord who engages with his devotees and gaṇas. Such personal accessibility is central to Purāṇic devotion, supporting worship of Śiva through liṅga-pūjā and loving remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to approach Śiva with sincerity—begin worship by invoking his welfare-giving grace (śivānugraha) through japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and offer prayer for the well-being of all beings before seeking guidance.