Shloka 29

शिवशङ्खचूडयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa

Devanagari script

पुनः प्रववृते युद्धं शिवदानवयोर्महत् । चकंपे धरणी द्यौश्च सनगाब्धिजलाशया

Transliteration

punaḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ śivadānavayormahat | cakaṃpe dharaṇī dyauśca sanagābdhijalāśayā

Translation

Once again the mighty battle between Lord Śiva and the Dānavas surged forth. The earth and the heavens shook, along with the mountains, the oceans, and all the reservoirs of waters.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of repetition)

• प्रववृते: began/turned forth (commenced)
• प्रववृते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्सभूत), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवदानवयोः: of Śiva and the demons
• शिवदानवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative), द्विवचनार्थे समाहार/इतरेतर; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन (dual)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. as per neuter agreement), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective) युद्धम्-विशेषण

• चकम्पे: trembled
• चकम्पे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम्प् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्सभूत), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• धरणी: the earth
• धरणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

• द्यौः: the sky/heaven
• द्यौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन (singular)

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

• स-नग-अब्धि-जल-आशया: together with mountains, oceans, waters, and reservoirs
• स-नग-अब्धि-जल-आशया: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + नग (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (singular); धरणी/द्यौः सह ‘सहित’ अर्थे—‘सहितया’ इव प्रयोगः (with …)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmic quake (digbhraṃśa-like trembling of earth and heaven)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

The shaking of earth and heaven signifies Śiva’s supremacy as Pati—the Lord whose śakti moves all realms. Even when He appears in a worldly battle (saguṇa līlā), it points to His transcendent sovereignty that dissolves pride and restores dharma.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Śiva acting within time and space, yet causing cosmic tremors—hinting that the same immeasurable reality is worshipped as the Śiva-liṅga, the stable sign of the infinite. Devotion to the Liṅga anchors the mind in the unshaken Lord amid the shaking world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to remain centered during inner ‘battles,’ along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s protection and mastery over fear.