Shloka 38

Mahiṣāsura’s Conquest of Svarga and the Devas’ Appeal to Śiva and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

दुर्धरो दुर्मुखश्चैव त्रिनेत्रश्च महाहनुः । एते चान्ये च बहवः शूरा युद्धविशा रदाः

Transliteration

durdharo durmukhaścaiva trinetraśca mahāhanuḥ | ete cānye ca bahavaḥ śūrā yuddhaviśā radāḥ

Translation

“Durdhara, Durmukha, Trinetra, and Mahāhanu—these and many others besides—were mighty heroes, thoroughly skilled and seasoned in the arts of war.”

Word by Word

• durdharaḥ: Durdhara (name)
• durdharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durdhara (प्रातिपदिक; proper name/epithet)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• durmukhaḥ: Durmukha (name)
• durmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durmukha (प्रातिपदिक; proper name/epithet)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• trinetraḥ: Trinetra (three-eyed; name)
• trinetraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः (त्रीणि नेत्राणि यस्य/त्रिणेत्रः as epithet)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• mahāhanuḥ: Mahāhanu (great-jawed; name)
• mahāhanuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + hanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः (महती हनुः यस्य/महाहनुः as epithet)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक; sarvanāma)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śūrāḥ: heroes
• śūrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yuddha-viśāradāḥ: skilled in battle
• yuddha-viśāradāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुषः (युद्धे विशारदाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Trinetra

FAQs

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

It highlights worldly power—names of renowned warriors and their martial expertise—implicitly contrasting external heroism with the higher Shaiva aim: surrender to Pati (Shiva) for liberation beyond conflict.

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

Even when the narrative describes armies and heroes, the Shiva Purana frames all power as dependent on Saguna Shiva, the Lord who governs karma and outcomes; devotion to the Linga is presented elsewhere as the true refuge beyond victory and defeat.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this line; the practical takeaway is to cultivate steadiness and remembrance of Shiva (e.g., japa of the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) amid worldly duties and struggles.