Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । अथ वीरगणै रुद्रो रौद्ररूपो महाप्रभुः । अभ्यगाद्वृषभारूढस्संग्रामं प्रहसन्निव

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | atha vīragaṇai rudro raudrarūpo mahāprabhuḥ | abhyagādvṛṣabhārūḍhassaṃgrāmaṃ prahasanniva

Translation

Dijo Sanatkumāra: Entonces el gran Señor Rudra, asumiendo una forma feroz (raudra) y rodeado de huestes heroicas, avanzó al campo de batalla, montado en el toro, como si sonriera con risa.

Word by Word

• sanat-kumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (सनत् प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (कुमार प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; proper name compound

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अथ अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक/मङ्गलार्थक)

• vīra-gaṇaiḥ: with the bands of heroes
• vīra-gaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (वीर प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (गण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; 'by/with groups of heroes'

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (रुद्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• raudra-rūpaḥ: of fierce form
• raudra-rūpaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra (रौद्र प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (रूप प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'of fierce form'

• mahā-prabhuḥ: the great Lord
• mahā-prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा प्रातिपदिक) + prabhu (प्रभु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'great lord'

• abhyagāt: went forth; approached
• abhyagāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person, Singular

• vṛṣabha-ārūḍhaḥ: mounted on the bull
• vṛṣabha-ārūḍhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛṣabha (वृषभ प्रातिपदिक) + ārūḍha (आरूढ कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; ā + ruh धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'mounted on a bull'

• saṃgrāmam: to the battle
• saṃgrāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃgrāma (संग्राम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• prahasan: laughing
• prahasan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + has (हस् धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (इव अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; simile particle (उपमार्थक)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It portrays Pati (Śiva) as the sovereign protector who enters conflict without inner agitation—His “fierce form” removes adharma, while His smiling composure signifies mastery over māyā and the assurance of grace to devotees.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Rudra with form, attendants (gaṇas), and vehicle (Nandin). Such narratives support devotional worship where the formless reality is approached through Śiva’s manifest, compassionate, and protective presence, harmonizing Linga-tattva with personal devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra as the fearless inner Lord riding Nandin (steadfast dharma), and recite the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate steadiness in adversity; optionally apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of detachment and Śiva’s protective grace.