Shloka 8

Devanagari script

दंभेन सह विष्णुश्च चकार परमं रणम् । कालासुरेण कालश्च गोकर्णेन हुताशनः

Transliteration

daṃbhena saha viṣṇuśca cakāra paramaṃ raṇam | kālāsureṇa kālaśca gokarṇena hutāśanaḥ

Translation

Viṣṇu fought a most intense battle with Dambha. Kāla (Time/Death) battled the demon Kālāsura, and Hutāśana (Agni, the Fire-god) fought with Gokarṇa.

Word by Word

• दंभेन: with Dambha
• दंभेन: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (with)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• चकार: did; made; waged
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• परमम्: supreme; very great
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘रणम्’)

• रणम्: battle
• रणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कालासुरेण: with Kālāsura
• कालासुरेण: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālāsura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (काल + असुर)

• कालः: Kāla (Time/Death personified)
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• गोकर्णेन: with Gokarṇa
• गोकर्णेन: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gokarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गो + कर्ण)

• हुताशनः: Hutāśana (Agni, Fire)
• हुताशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hutāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (हुत + आशन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kala
• Agni (Hutashana)
• Dambha
• Kalasura
• Gokarna

FAQs

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

It shows how the Lord’s cosmic order is protected through appointed divine powers—Viṣṇu, Kāla, and Agni—each confronting adharma in its own form. In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, such victories ultimately occur by the sanction of Pati (Śiva), who governs the universe and enables dharma to prevail.

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

Though the verse lists battles of other deities, the Yuddhakhaṇḍa frames all divine capacities as functioning within Śiva’s sovereignty. Linga-worship focuses the mind on that supreme Lord (Saguna Śiva as accessible support), recognizing Him as the inner ruler empowering even Viṣṇu, Kāla, and Agni.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind in dharma-yuddha through japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and, where customary, wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra-bhasma as reminders of Śiva’s protecting grace amid inner conflict.