Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

समारुरोह यानं च सहामात्यैश्च सत्वरः । आदिदेश स्वसैन्यं च युद्धार्थं शंकरेण च

Transliteration

samāruroha yānaṃ ca sahāmātyaiśca satvaraḥ | ādideśa svasainyaṃ ca yuddhārthaṃ śaṃkareṇa ca

Translation

Hastening, he mounted his chariot along with his ministers, and—by the command and sanction of Śaṅkara—he ordered his own army to set forth for battle.

Word by Word

• samāruroha: mounted
• samāruroha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√ruh (धातु: रुह्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; ‘mounted’

• yānam: vehicle, conveyance
• yānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Prepositional indeclinable (सह-योगे अव्यय) governing instrumental

• amātyaiḥ: with ministers
• amātyaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: amātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); governed by saha

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• satvaraḥ: quickly, in haste (hasty one)
• satvaraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-tvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective ‘hasty/quick’ qualifying subject

• ādideśa: commanded
• ādideśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√diś (धातु: दिश्)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; ‘commanded/ordered’

• sva-sainyam: his own army
• sva-sainyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘his own army’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• yuddha-artham: for battle
• yuddha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense ‘for the purpose of battle’ (prayojana)

• śaṃkareṇa: by/with Śaṅkara
• śaṃkareṇa: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agent/instrument in passive sense or accompaniment ‘by/with Śaṅkara’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)

FAQs

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

It highlights that worldly action—even conflict—becomes dharmic when aligned with Śaṅkara’s will; in Shaiva thought, surrender to the Lord (Pati) sanctifies and steadies the individual’s duty.

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

Śaṅkara is presented as the personal, guiding Lord (Saguna Shiva) who directs devotees and kings; Linga-worship trains the mind to seek Shiva’s command and act without ego, as an instrument of the Divine.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Before undertaking decisive actions, one may center the mind with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a brief prayer of śaraṇāgati (surrender), seeking Śiva’s guidance so actions remain disciplined and non-egoic.