Shloka 5

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

शिवश्चैवार्जुनश्चैव युयुधाते परस्परम् । नानाविधैश्चायुधैर्हि महाबलपराक्रमौ

Transliteration

śivaścaivārjunaścaiva yuyudhāte parasparam | nānāvidhaiścāyudhairhi mahābalaparākramau

Translation

Śiva and Arjuna fought one another, each answering the other in turn, evenly matched. With many kinds of weapons they battled—both mighty in strength and blazing in valor—revealing the Lord’s saguṇa līlā that tests and refines the devotee’s heroism and surrender.

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• युयुधाते: (the two) fought
• युयुधाते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• परस्परम्: mutually
• परस्परम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial usage: ‘mutually’)

• नाना-विधैः: with various kinds (of)
• नाना-विधैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘āyudhaiḥ’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आयुधैः: with weapons
• आयुधैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• महा-बल-पराक्रमौ: (both) of great strength and valor
• महा-बल-पराक्रमौ: कर्तृविशेषण (Qualifier of Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘śivaḥ’ and ‘arjunaḥ’ together)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Arjuna

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva’s divine līlā where the devotee is tested through confrontation, turning ego-driven prowess into purified courage, humility, and reliance on the Lord—key steps toward grace and liberation in a Shaiva Siddhanta lens.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—God with form and action—who engages devotees directly. Such narratives support Linga worship by affirming that the formless Supreme is also approachable through manifest play, receiving devotion and granting anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the attitude of surrender in struggle, and reinforce steadiness with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders that victory is purification, not domination.