Shloka 11

Devanagari script

अशुक्ल शैला एव मत्तवारणा अतानिषुश्चीत्कृतिशब्दमाहवे । क्रमेलकाश्चापि गलद्गलध्वनिं वितन्वते क्षुद्रमहीधरोपमाः

Transliteration

aśukla śailā eva mattavāraṇā atāniṣuścītkṛtiśabdamāhave | kramelakāścāpi galadgaladhvaniṃ vitanvate kṣudramahīdharopamāḥ

Translation

Like dark mountains, the rut-maddened elephants in battle raised piercing cries; and the camels too, resembling small hills, spread all around their gurgling, clattering roar.

Word by Word

• अशुक्लशैलाः: dark mountains
• अशुक्लशैलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः: अशुक्लाः शैलाः (dark/black mountains)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• मत्तवारणाः: rutting elephants
• मत्तवारणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः: मत्ताः वारणाः

• अताणिषुः: (like) unstrung arrows
• अताणिषुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अताणि (प्रातिपदिक) + इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: अताणयः इषवः (arrows without bowstring/loose arrows; lit. 'without bowstring')

• चीत्कृतिशब्दम्: the 'cīt' cry/sound
• चीत्कृतिशब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चीत्कृति (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: चीत्कृतेः शब्दः

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• क्रमेलकाः: camels
• क्रमेलकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रमेलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also)

• गलद्गलध्वनिम्: a gurgling sound
• गलद्गलध्वनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गलत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + गल (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: गलतः गलस्य ध्वनिः (gurgling sound)

• वितन्वते: spread, produce
• वितन्वते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + तन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• क्षुद्रमहीधरोपमाः: resembling small mountains
• क्षुद्रमहीधरोपमाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + महीधर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: क्षुद्राः महीधराः इव उपमाः/उपमाः (like small mountains)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the scene to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

FAQs

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

It portrays the overwhelming force and noise of worldly conflict, implicitly contrasting transient battlefield power with the Shaiva aim of inner stillness and refuge in Pati (Shiva), the only stable reality beyond agitation.

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

Though the verse is descriptive, such battle scenes in the Purana frame the devotee’s turn from external tumult to Saguna Shiva’s protection—worship of the Linga as the steady center amid chaos and fear.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative remembrance of Shiva when confronted by agitation, anger, or fear—inner “battlefield” states.