Shloka 17

Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories

Battle Muster and Omens

Devanagari script

ततोतिरुष्टः समरे महारथश्चकार बाणावलिवृष्टिमद्भुताम् । घनाघनाः संववृषुर्यथोदकं रणस्थले प्रावृडिवागता तदा

Transliteration

tatotiruṣṭaḥ samare mahārathaścakāra bāṇāvalivṛṣṭimadbhutām | ghanāghanāḥ saṃvavṛṣuryathodakaṃ raṇasthale prāvṛḍivāgatā tadā

Translation

Then, exceedingly enraged in the battle, that great chariot-warrior unleashed a wondrous shower of volleys of arrows. Upon the battlefield they rained down like water from dense clouds, just as when the monsoon season arrives.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence/time

• ati-ruṣṭaḥ: greatly enraged
• ati-ruṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruṣ (धातु) + ati (उपसर्ग) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत्); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used adjectivally

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular; place-locative

• mahā-rathaḥ: the great chariot-warrior
• mahā-rathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; compound meaning 'great chariot-warrior'

• cakāra: made, performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• bāṇa-āvali-vṛṣṭim: a shower of volleys of arrows
• bāṇa-āvali-vṛṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āvali (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine stem vṛṣṭi; Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'of a row/stream of arrows'

• adbhutām: marvelous, astonishing
• adbhutām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies bāṇāvalivṛṣṭim

• ghana-aghanāḥ: clouds (thick and thin)
• ghana-aghanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक) + aghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); copulative: 'dense and non-dense (clouds)' i.e., clouds of various density

• saṃ-vavṛṣuḥ: poured down, rained
• saṃ-vavṛṣuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛṣ (धातु) + saṃ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative particle (उपमानवाचक)

• udakam: water
• udakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular; object of implied raining

• raṇa-sthale: on the battlefield
• raṇa-sthale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी), Singular; सप्तमी-स्थान: 'on the battlefield'

• prāvṛṭ: the rainy season
• prāvṛṭ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāvṛṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular; season-name

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; simile particle (उपमावाचक)

• āgatā: having come, arrived
• āgatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-gam (धातु) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त); Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with prāvṛṭ

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle episode to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

The arrow-storm compared to monsoon clouds mirrors how unchecked krodha (anger) can flood the field of life with agitation. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such turbulence strengthens pāśa (bondage), while remembrance of Shiva as Pati is the means to regain inner steadiness.

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

Although the verse is martial, it indirectly points to the need for anchoring the mind in Saguna Shiva—often approached through Linga worship—so that the devotee is not swept away by the ‘downpour’ of reactive emotions and sensory impulses.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cool the heat of anger, supported by calm breath-awareness; if following Purana practice, apply Tripundra (bhasma) and maintain a sattvic vow on days of Shiva worship.