Shloka 18

Śumbha–Niśumbha’s Mobilization After Devī’s Victories

Battle Muster and Omens

Devanagari script

शरैश्शितैश्शूलपरश्वधायुधैः सभिन्दिपालैः परिघैश्शरासनैः । भुशुण्डिकाप्रासक्षुरप्रसंज्ञकैर्महासिभिः संयुयुधे मदोद्धतैः

Transliteration

śaraiśśitaiśśūlaparaśvadhāyudhaiḥ sabhindipālaiḥ parighaiśśarāsanaiḥ | bhuśuṇḍikāprāsakṣuraprasaṃjñakairmahāsibhiḥ saṃyuyudhe madoddhataiḥ

Translation

Maddened with pride, they fought with sharpened arrows, tridents, axes, and other weapons; with bhindipālas (javelins), iron clubs, and bows; and with bhuśuṇḍikās, spears, razor-like blades, and great swords, hurling themselves into battle with furious force.

Word by Word

• śaraiḥ: with arrows
• śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural; means/instrument

• śitaiḥ: sharp
• śitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifies śaraiḥ

• śūla-paraśvadha-āyudhaiḥ: with weapons—spears and axes
• śūla-paraśvadha-āyudhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter āyudha; Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'weapons such as spears and axes'

• sa-bhindipālaiḥ: together with bhindipālas
• sa-bhindipālaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + bhindipāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; avyayībhāva: 'together with bhindipālas (a kind of missile/club)'

• parighaiḥ: with iron bars/clubs
• parighaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• śara-āsanaiḥ: with bows
• śara-āsanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; conventional compound for 'bows' (śarāsana)

• bhuśuṇḍikā-prāsa-kṣura-prasaṃjñakaiḥ: with weapons known as bhuśuṇḍikā, prāsa, kṣura
• bhuśuṇḍikā-prāsa-kṣura-prasaṃjñakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhuśuṇḍikā (प्रातिपदिक) + prāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣura (प्रातिपदिक) + prasaṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'those called bhuśuṇḍikā, prāsa, kṣura' (various weapons)

• mahā-asibhiḥ: with great swords
• mahā-asibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + asi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; 'great swords'

• saṃ-yuyudhe: fought, engaged in battle
• saṃ-yuyudhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु) + saṃ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Singular; ātmanepada

• mada-uddhataiḥ: with the pride-maddened (fierce)
• mada-uddhataiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mada (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; qualifies the instrumental set (weapons/warriors) contextually; 'arrogant due to intoxication/pride'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights “mada” (arrogant intoxication) driving beings into violent conflict; in Shaiva Siddhanta this is a form of pāśa (bondage) that veils the soul, and only turning toward Pati (Shiva) with humility leads beyond such bondage.

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

The battlefield imagery contrasts outer power with inner surrender: worship of Saguna Shiva (including the Linga) trains the devotee to replace pride and aggression with devotion, discipline, and reliance on Shiva’s grace rather than mere strength.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter “mada” through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of humility, self-control, and Shiva-centered living.