Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

एतदंतरमासाद्य शूलपाणिस्तथोत्तरे । आगत्य च त्रिशूलेन तच्छिरो निरकृंतत

Transliteration

etadaṃtaramāsādya śūlapāṇistathottare | āgatya ca triśūlena tacchiro nirakṛṃtata

Translation

Alors, trouvant l'ouverture appropriée, Śūlapāṇi (le Seigneur Shiva) s'avança aussitôt ; s'approchant, il trancha la tête de celui-ci avec son trident.

Word by Word

• एतत्-अन्तरम्: this interval/opportunity
• एतत्-अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of आसाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (this interval/this opportunity), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having seized/attained
• आसाद्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ- सद् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having reached/obtained’

• शूल-पाणिः: the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूल-पाणिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (one whose hand has a trident/spear), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तथा: then/thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thus/then)

• उत्तरे: afterwards/in the next moment
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘in the later moment/afterwards’ (contextual)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having come’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• त्रि-शूलेन: with the trident
• त्रि-शूलेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु (three-pronged spear = trident), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• तत्-शिरः: that head
• तत्-शिरः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (that head), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• निरकृंतत: cut off
• निरकृंतत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-कृत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

Śiva’s decisive act symbolizes the removal of adharma and, inwardly, the cutting down of the ego (ahaṅkāra) that binds the paśu (individual soul) with pāśa (bondage), restoring alignment with Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—the compassionate yet formidable Lord who protects cosmic order. In Liṅga-worship, this same Śiva is adored as the supreme reality who both grants grace and destroys impurities that obstruct liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a contemplative takeaway, meditate on Śiva as Śūlapāṇi while chanting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and praying for the severing of inner vices and ignorance.