Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

रणे मृत्युर्वरश्चास्ति सर्वकामफलप्रदः । यशःप्रदो विशेषेण मोक्षदोऽपि प्रकीर्त्तितः

Transliteration

raṇe mṛtyurvaraścāsti sarvakāmaphalapradaḥ | yaśaḥprado viśeṣeṇa mokṣado'pi prakīrttitaḥ

Translation

A heroic death in battle is indeed declared to be a boon: it bestows the fruits of all desired aims. It grants fame in a special way, and is also proclaimed to be a giver of liberation (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (रण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• mṛtyuḥ: death
• mṛtyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (मृत्यु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• varaḥ: a boon; excellent thing
• varaḥ: Pradhāna-kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (वर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate noun

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-dyotaka (समुच्चय-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• asti: is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person, Singular

• sarva-kāma-phala-pradaḥ: giver of the fruits of all desires
• sarva-kāma-phala-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व) + kāma (काम) + phala (फल) + prada (प्रद प्रातिपदिक; pra + dā धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'giver of fruits of all desires'

• yaśaḥ-pradaḥ: giver of fame
• yaśaḥ-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yaśas (यशस् प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रद)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• viśeṣeṇa: especially
• viśeṣeṇa: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (विशेष प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental used adverbially (तृतीया-अव्ययीभाव); 'especially'

• mokṣa-daḥ: giver of liberation
• mokṣa-daḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mokṣa (मोक्ष प्रातिपदिक) + da (द प्रातिपदिक; √dā)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'giver of liberation'

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अपि अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; particle (अप्यर्थक) = 'also/even'

• prakīrttitaḥ: is proclaimed
• prakīrttitaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + kīrt (कीर्त् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'is proclaimed/said'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises selfless, dharmic sacrifice: giving up the body in righteous battle is treated as a spiritually potent act that yields worldly merit (fame and desired results) and, by Shiva’s grace, can culminate in moksha.

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

In the Rudrasaṃhitā’s Shaiva frame, all fruits ultimately ripen through Shiva as Pati (the Lord). Even when the verse speaks of battle-merit, the highest fruit—moksha—is understood as Shiva’s granting grace, the same goal sought through Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-bhakti) and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness in dharma and remembrance of Shiva at life’s end; practically, one may cultivate Shiva-smaraṇa through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and wearing Rudraksha as a support for unwavering resolve.