Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

शिवदूतस्य शङ्खचूडकुलप्रवेशः — The Śiva-Envoy’s Entry into Śaṅkhacūḍa’s City

Devanagari script

स गत्वा शंखचूडं तं ददर्श दनुजाधिपम् । वीरमंडल मध्यस्थं रत्नसिंहासनस्थितम्

Transliteration

sa gatvā śaṃkhacūḍaṃ taṃ dadarśa danujādhipam | vīramaṃḍala madhyasthaṃ ratnasiṃhāsanasthitam

Translation

Parvenu là, il vit Śaṅkhacūḍa, seigneur des troupes dānava, assis sur un trône serti de joyaux, au milieu du cercle des guerriers.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having gone’

• शङ्खचूडम्: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शङ्खचूडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख+चूड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (as a proper name)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अन्वय-सम्बन्ध (refers to Śaṅkhacūḍa)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दनुजाधिपम्: lord of the Danujas (demons)
• दनुजाधिपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दनुज+अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘दनुजानाम् अधिपः’)

• वीरमण्डलमध्यस्थम्: standing in the midst of a circle of heroes
• वीरमण्डलमध्यस्थम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर+मण्डल+मध्य+स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; स्था धातोः क्त/निष्ठा-प्रायः ‘स्थ’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी/षष्ठी-प्रायः: ‘वीरमण्डलस्य मध्ये स्थितः’)

• रत्नसिंहासनस्थितम्: seated/placed on a jeweled throne
• रत्नसिंहासनस्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न+सिंहासन+स्थित (प्रातिपदिक; स्था धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी: ‘रत्नसिंहासने स्थितः’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkhacūḍa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the outward majesty of adharmic power—Śaṅkhacūḍa surrounded by warriors and enthroned—setting up the Shaiva lesson that worldly dominance and splendor are impermanent when not aligned with devotion (bhakti) and righteousness under Pati (Śiva).

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

By portraying a demon-king’s regal, saguna display of power, the text implicitly contrasts it with true refuge in Saguna Śiva (often worshiped as the Liṅga), whose grace—not military formation or royal seat—ultimately determines protection, victory, and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to anchor the mind in Śiva-bhakti rather than intimidation by external power—recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with steady attention, and cultivate inner detachment from displays of status and force.