Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

केचिद्विदारिताः पृष्ठे कुंतैरृष्टिभिरंकुशैः । छिन्नान्यपि शिरांस्येव पतितानि च भूतले

Transliteration

kecidvidāritāḥ pṛṣṭhe kuṃtairṛṣṭibhiraṃkuśaiḥ | chinnānyapi śirāṃsyeva patitāni ca bhūtale

Translation

Certains furent déchirés au dos par des lances, des piques et des aiguillons ; et des têtes tranchées tombèrent également sur le sol.

Word by Word

• kecit: some (persons)
• kecit: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• vidāritāḥ: torn asunder
• vidāritāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dṝ दॄ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—वि-उपसर्ग; भूतकर्मणि क्त (PPP) ‘vidārita’; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• pṛṣṭhe: on the back
• pṛṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• kuṃtaiḥ: with spears
• kuṃtaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuṃta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ṛṣṭibhiḥ: with lances
• ṛṣṭibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• aṃkuśaiḥ: with goads
• aṃkuśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃkuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• chinnāni: cut off
• chinnāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √chid छिद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—भूतकर्मणि क्त (PPP) ‘chinna’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अपि (particle: ‘also/even’)

• śirāṃsi: heads
• śirāṃsi: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—उपमानवाचक (comparative particle ‘like/as’)

• patitāni: fallen
• patitāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √pat पत् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—भूतकर्मणि क्त (PPP) ‘patita’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• bhūtale: on the ground
• bhūtale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūtala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse underscores the inevitable collapse of adharmic forces when divine order is restored; in Shaiva Siddhanta, this reflects how Pati (Shiva) governs karma and the removal of obstructive bonds (pāśa) through righteous divine agency.

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

Though the verse is martial in imagery, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion by portraying the cosmic function of Shiva’s power (through his divine hosts and commanders) as protector of dharma—encouraging devotees to take refuge in Shiva’s manifest grace while pursuing inner purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) through japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment and steadfastness amid conflict.