Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे व्यासाभूतां नन्दीगुहश्च तौ । उत्थितावाप्तसंज्ञौ हि जगर्जतुरलं रणे

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare vyāsābhūtāṃ nandīguhaśca tau | utthitāvāptasaṃjñau hi jagarjaturalaṃ raṇe

Translation

Cependant, Nandī et Guha—abattus et privés de connaissance—reprirent leurs esprits. Se relevant, tous deux rugirent puissamment sur le champ de bataille.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन (singular)

• अन्तरे: in the interval; meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन (singular)

• व्यासाभूताम्: having become widespread/extended (fem. acc.)
• व्यासाभूताम्: Karma/Viśeṣaṇa (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यास + भू (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: व्यास = “expanded/wide” (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (√भू + क्त, past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन (singular); used as adjective qualifying an implied feminine noun (e.g., सेना/दिशा/स्थिति) per context

• नन्दी: Nandī
• नन्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• गुहः: Guha
• गुहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), द्विवचन (dual)

• उत्थितौ: having risen; standing up
• उत्थितौ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle: risen), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), द्विवचन (dual)

• आप्तसंज्ञौ: having regained consciousness
• आप्तसंज्ञौ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्त + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: “regained” + “consciousness”), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (nominative), द्विवचन (dual)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• जगर्जतुः: they two roared
• जगर्जतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (dual)

• अलम्: greatly; loudly
• अलम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable: enough; greatly/abundantly—intensifier)

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Guha

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle that those aligned with Pati (Lord Shiva) regain strength through divine grace and steadfast will; even after defeat or unconsciousness, devotion and dharmic purpose restore inner power to continue righteous action.

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

Nandī and Guha represent Saguna Shiva’s active protection through his attendants and divine family; their return to battle mirrors the devotee’s reliance on Shiva’s manifest grace—approached through Linga worship, mantra, and remembrance—to overcome obstacles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) for steadiness in adversity, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines supporting courage, clarity, and resilience.