Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins

Devanagari script

शंकरानुचराञ्शौरिर्भूतप्रमथगुह्यकान् । द्रावयामास तीक्ष्णाग्रैः शरैः शार्ङ्गधनुश्च्युतैः

Transliteration

śaṃkarānucarāñśaurirbhūtapramathaguhyakān | drāvayāmāsa tīkṣṇāgraiḥ śaraiḥ śārṅgadhanuścyutaiḥ

Translation

Entonces Śauri (Viṣṇu), soltando flechas de punta acerada desde el arco Śārṅga, hizo retroceder y dispersó a los servidores de Śaṅkara: las huestes de Bhūtas, Pramathas y Guhyakas.

Word by Word

• शंकर-अनुचरान्: followers of Śaṅkara
• शंकर-अनुचरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शंकरस्य अनुचराः)

• शौरिः: Śauri (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• शौरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• भूत-प्रमथ-गुह्यकान्: Bhūtas, Pramathas, and Guhyakas
• भूत-प्रमथ-गुह्यकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक) + गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (भूताश्च प्रमथाश्च गुह्यकाश्च)

• द्रावयामास: caused to flee; drove away
• द्रावयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: द्रु (धातु) [प्रेरणार्थे causative: द्रावय-]
• Form: लिट् (परिप्रास/Perfect periphrastic), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; causative sense

• तीक्ष्ण-अग्रैः: with sharp-pointed
• तीक्ष्ण-अग्रैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (तीक्ष्णम् अग्रं येषां ते) विशेषण (शरैः)

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• शार्ङ्ग-धनुः-च्युतैः: shot from the Śārṅga bow
• शार्ङ्ग-धनुः-च्युतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + च्युत (कृदन्त; √च्यु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शार्ङ्गधनुषः च्युताः) विशेषण (शरैः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Bhutas
• Pramathas
• Guhyakas

FAQs

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

It portrays the cosmic play where even divine hosts engage in conflict, reminding the seeker that worldly power—whether of gods or beings—remains within the realm of action (karma), while true refuge is in Pati (Shiva) who grants liberation beyond agitation and fear.

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s Saguna aspect through his gaṇas (attendants) and their roles in divine narrative; such stories support devotional contemplation (bhakti) of Shiva’s manifested lordship, which culminates in reverence to the Linga as the steady, auspicious presence of Shiva amid all turmoil.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical takeaway, one may stabilize the mind during inner “battle” by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and by adopting Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders of Shiva’s protection and mastery over fear.