Shloka 26

शिवदूतेन युद्धनिश्चयः तथा देवदानवयुद्धारम्भः (Śiva’s Envoy and the Commencement of the Deva–Dānava War)

Devanagari script

समुद्धतकिरीटैश्च शिरोभिस्सह कुंडलैः । संरंभनष्टैरास्तीर्णा बभौ भूः करभोरुभिः

Transliteration

samuddhatakirīṭaiśca śirobhissaha kuṃḍalaiḥ | saṃraṃbhanaṣṭairāstīrṇā babhau bhūḥ karabhorubhiḥ

Translation

The earth appeared strewn with severed heads—crowns torn off and earrings still clinging—along with mighty thighs, shattered in the fury of battle.

Word by Word

• समुद्धत-किरीटैः: with upraised/loosened crowns (helmets)
• समुद्धत-किरीटैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्धत (कृदन्त, √उद्+सम्+√धू/√ध्वा) + किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समुद्धत-किरीट = ‘उद्धताः किरीटाः येषां/उद्धतकिरीटाः’ (descriptive compound)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिरोभिः: with heads
• शिरोभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/ सह-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (with; accompaniment marker)

• कुण्डलैः: with earrings
• कुण्डलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• संरम्भ-नष्टैः: destroyed by violent onrush/fury
• संरम्भ-नष्टैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + नष्ट (कृदन्त, √नश्)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘संरम्भेण नष्टैः’ (destroyed by fury/impetuosity)

• आस्तीर्णा: was strewn/covered
• आस्तीर्णा: Karma (कर्म) / Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्तॄ (धातु √स्तॄ) → आस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आस्तीर्णा (अभवत्)’ = was strewn/covered

• बभौ: shone/appeared
• बभौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• भूः: the earth/ground
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• करभ-ऊरुभिः: with thighs like an elephant’s trunk (i.e., thick thighs)
• करभ-ऊरुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करभ (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘करभस्य (हस्तिनः) ऊरवः इव’ = thighs like an elephant’s trunk

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

FAQs

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

It underscores the perishability of embodied power—ornaments, status, and strength fall in an instant—while reminding the seeker that true refuge is in Pati (Śiva), not in transient worldly might.

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

The verse portrays the collapse of external identities (crowns, earrings, heroic bodies). In Saguna worship, the devotee turns from such impermanence to the stable, auspicious center symbolized by the Śiva-liṅga—Śiva as the Lord who governs dissolution and grants liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vairāgya supported by japa: repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating impermanence, and steady the mind in Śiva as the inner witness beyond birth and death.