Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

Devanagari script

अथागत्य स दंभस्य तनयस्सुप्रतापवान् । शक्तिं चिक्षेप रुद्राय ज्वालामालातिभीषणाम्

Transliteration

athāgatya sa daṃbhasya tanayassupratāpavān | śaktiṃ cikṣepa rudrāya jvālāmālātibhīṣaṇām

Translation

Entonces el muy valeroso hijo de Dambha se acercó y arrojó contra Rudra una lanza (śakti) pavorosa, ceñida por guirnaldas de llamas.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (प्रसङ्ग/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having come’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दंभस्य: of Dambha
• दंभस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; proper name

• तनयः: son
• तनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुप्रतापवान्: very valiant, of great prowess
• सुप्रतापवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-प्रतापवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘tanayaḥ’); ‘सु’ उपसर्ग/उपपद

• शक्तिम्: a spear, lance
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रुद्राय: at/for Rudra
• रुद्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन

• ज्वाला-माला-अति-भीषणाम्: extremely terrifying with a garland of flames
• ज्वाला-माला-अति-भीषणाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + अति (अव्यय) + भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (1) ज्वालामाला = षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (ज्वालानां माला/ज्वालामयी माला); (2) ज्वालामाला + अतिभीषणा = उपपद-तत्पुरुष (अति-भीषण); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘śaktim’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Dambha
• Dambha's son

FAQs

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

It depicts the limited power of hostile, ego-driven force (āsuric might) confronting Rudra, the Supreme Lord (Pati). Even when fearsome weapons arise, Shaiva Siddhanta reads such scenes as reminders that divine grace and lordship ultimately govern and dissolve all destructive impulses.

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

Rudra here is Saguna Shiva—personally present and active in the world to protect dharma. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see that same Lord as the unshakable refuge: the outward battle mirrors the inner surrender where all ‘weapons’ of fear are offered into Shiva’s steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take refuge in japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while visualizing Rudra as a protective presence. If following Shaiva practice, wearing Rudraksha and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) can be done as daily reminders of Shiva’s guardianship during inner conflict.