Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 29

तारक-कुमार-युद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Tāraka and Kumāra

Devanagari script

तं तारकं हंतुमनाः करशक्तिर्महाप्रभुः । विरराज महावीरः कुमारश्शंभुबालकः

Transliteration

taṃ tārakaṃ haṃtumanāḥ karaśaktirmahāprabhuḥ | virarāja mahāvīraḥ kumāraśśaṃbhubālakaḥ

Translation

Résolu à abattre Tāraka, le Grand Seigneur—puissant, la lance-Śakti en main—rayonna de splendeur : c’était Kumāra, héros suprême, l’enfant divin de Śambhu.

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तारकम्: Tāraka
• तारकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हन्तुमनाः: intending to kill
• हन्तुमनाः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √han (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृत्) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद) ‘हन्तुम्’ + ‘मनाः’ = ‘intent on killing’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• करशक्तिः: (he) with spear in hand / hand-weapon
• करशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara + śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/संबन्ध) ‘hand-spear/ शक्ति in hand’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महाप्रभुः: the great lord
• महाप्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ‘great lord’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to कुमारः

• विरराज: shone forth
• विरराज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√rāj (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• महावीरः: great hero
• महावीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ‘great hero’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुमारः: Kumāra
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शम्भु-बालकः: son of Śambhu
• शम्भु-बालकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu + bālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी) ‘Śambhu’s child’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: protective

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya
• Shiva
• Tāraka

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Kumāra as the manifest, saguna instrument of Śiva’s grace, destroying the adharma embodied by Tāraka—symbolically the egoic obstruction that resists divine order—so devotees may return to dharma and progress toward liberation.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Śiva’s transcendent reality, this verse highlights Śiva’s saguna compassion expressed through his divine son: worship of Śiva naturally includes reverence for his śakti and his purposeful manifestations that protect devotees and restore cosmic balance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva’s protective grace by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing the removal of inner ‘Tāraka’ (pride, anger, delusion); offer vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and pray for courage and clarity to overcome adharma.