Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

पतितं वीरभद्रं तु दृष्ट्वा रुद्रगणा भयात् । अपागच्छन्रणं हित्वा क्रोशमाना महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

patitaṃ vīrabhadraṃ tu dṛṣṭvā rudragaṇā bhayāt | apāgacchanraṇaṃ hitvā krośamānā maheśvaram

Translation

Voyant Vīrabhadra tombé, les troupes de Rudra furent saisies de crainte; abandonnant le champ de bataille, elles s’enfuirent en appelant Maheśvara (le Seigneur Śiva) pour refuge.

Word by Word

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (√पत् धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• वीरभद्रम्: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (वीरः चासौ भद्रः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पदपूरण (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having seen)

• रुद्रगणाः: Rudra’s attendants (gaṇas)
• रुद्रगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र-गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य गणाः)

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• अपागच्छन्: they fled/withdrew
• अपागच्छन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-आ-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• रणम्: the battle
• रणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having abandoned)

• क्रोशमानाः: crying out
• क्रोशमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्रुश् (धातु) + शानच् (शतृ/शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (present participle, आत्मनेपद-शानच्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महतः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadra
• Rudragaṇas
• Maheśvara (Śiva)

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): even powerful beings falter, but turning to Maheśvara as Pati (the Lord) is the Shaiva path from भय (fear) to grace and protection.

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

The gaṇas’ cry to Maheśvara reflects Saguna Śiva worship—approaching the personal Lord for shelter; in Purāṇic devotion this same refuge is sought through Linga-upāsanā as Śiva’s accessible, compassion-bestowing presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is refuge through japa and remembrance—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) when fear arises, while cultivating humility and dependence on Śiva’s protection.