Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

जटाभारैस्स वै रेजे प्रलयार्क इवांशुभिः । महिषासुरपुत्रोऽसौ गजासुर उदारधीः

Transliteration

jaṭābhāraissa vai reje pralayārka ivāṃśubhiḥ | mahiṣāsuraputro'sau gajāsura udāradhīḥ

Translation

With the heavy mass of his matted locks he shone, as though with the blazing rays of the sun at the time of dissolution. He was Gajāsura, the son of Mahiṣāsura, a mighty one of noble resolve.

Word by Word

• jaṭā-bhāraiḥ: with the masses/burdens of matted hair
• jaṭā-bhāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"जटानां भारैः"

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; sarvanāma (pronoun)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• reje: shone, was resplendent
• reje: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rāj (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; ātmanepada

• pralaya-arkaḥ: the sun at the time of cosmic dissolution
• pralaya-arkaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान/standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः—"प्रलयसमये (स्थित) अर्कः" (the sun at dissolution)

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; upamā-vācaka (comparative particle)

• aṃśubhiḥ: with rays
• aṃśubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental/3rd), Bahuvacana

• mahiṣāsura-putraḥ: son of Mahiṣāsura
• mahiṣāsura-putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—"महिषासुरस्य पुत्रः"

• asau: that (one), he
• asau: Karta (कर्ता) apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• gajāsuraḥ: Gajāsura
• gajāsuraḥ: Karta (कर्ता) apposition
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः (name)

• udāra-dhīḥ: noble-minded, of lofty intellect
• udāra-dhīḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः—"उदारा धीर्यस्य" / "उदारधी" (noble-minded)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-imagery (pralayārka comparison)

Characters & Entities

• Gajāsura
• Mahiṣāsura

FAQs

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

The verse uses pralaya-sun imagery to portray overwhelming, world-shaking brilliance—reminding the reader that mere external radiance and power (even when “noble-minded”) remain within the realm of saṃsāra unless aligned with devotion to Pati (Shiva), the true Lord of dissolution and liberation.

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

By contrasting an asura’s terrifying splendour with pralaya imagery, the text implicitly directs attention to Saguna Shiva as the real source and controller of dissolution; Linga-worship centers the devotee on that supreme Pati rather than on awe of worldly might.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as the Lord of pralaya while chanting the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating vairāgya (dispassion) toward displays of power and turning the mind to liberation.