Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency

Devanagari script

इत्याद्यैस्तु गणैरुग्रैरंधकोप्यधकीकृतः । त्रिशूलशक्तिबाणौघधारासंपातपातिभिः

Transliteration

ityādyaistu gaṇairugrairaṃdhakopyadhakīkṛtaḥ | triśūlaśaktibāṇaughadhārāsaṃpātapātibhiḥ

Translation

Thus, by those fierce gaṇas, even Andhaka was brought low and humbled—struck down by the onrushing, rain-like downpour and crashing volleys of tridents, spears, and masses of arrows.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• आद्यैः: by the foremost/leading
• आद्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• गणैः: by the troops/hosts (gaṇas)
• गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• उग्रैः: fierce
• उग्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (गणैः)

• अन्धकः: Andhaka
• अन्धकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (particle: also/even)

• अधकीकृतः: was subdued/overpowered
• अधकीकृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधकीकृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense)

• त्रिशूल-शक्ति-बाण-ओघ-धारा-संपात-पातिभिः: by those striking with showers/streams of tridents, spears, and arrows
• त्रिशूल-शक्ति-बाण-ओघ-धारा-संपात-पातिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक) + संपात (प्रातिपदिक) + पातिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुष-प्रधान), विशेषण (गणैः/उग्रैः) — ‘त्रिशूलशक्तिबाणानाम् ओघः, तस्य धारा, तस्य संपातः; तेन पातिभिः’ (instrumental plural of pātin ‘striking/causing to fall’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Shiva
• Shiva’s Gaṇas

FAQs

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

It depicts how arrogance and adharma (Andhaka’s pride) are inevitably subdued by Śiva’s śakti working through His gaṇas—symbolizing the soul’s ego being humbled so devotion and right vision can arise.

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

The gaṇas’ victory reflects Saguna Śiva’s protective governance of the cosmos: the Linga is worshipped as the stable center of order (dharma), while His manifest power removes obstructive forces that oppose that order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a humility-vow, combined with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence—reducing ego and aligning the mind with Śiva’s discipline.