Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

शिवदूतेन युद्धनिश्चयः तथा देवदानवयुद्धारम्भः (Śiva’s Envoy and the Commencement of the Deva–Dānava War)

Devanagari script

एवं चिरतरं कालं देवदानवयोर्महत् । बभूव युद्धं विकटं करालं वीरहर्षदम्

Transliteration

evaṃ cirataraṃ kālaṃ devadānavayormahat | babhūva yuddhaṃ vikaṭaṃ karālaṃ vīraharṣadam

Translation

Ainsi, durant un très long temps, une grande bataille fit rage entre les Deva et les Dānava—terrible et redoutable, d’aspect farouche, et source d’allégresse pour les vaillants.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• चिरतरम्: for a longer (time)
• चिरतरम्: Kāla-viśeṣaṇa (कालविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative)

• कालम्: time/period
• कालम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• देवदानवयोः: of the gods and demons
• देवदानवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• बभूव: became/occurred
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• विकटम्: terrible/huge
• विकटम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• करालम्: fearsome
• करालम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वीरहर्षदम्: giving joy to heroes
• वीरहर्षदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (उपपद/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘वीराणां हर्षं ददाति’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Implied ‘kāla’ (time) intensity: long duration of war evokes time’s devouring aspect, thematically adjacent to pralaya imagery though not explicit.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Danavas

FAQs

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

The verse frames the Deva–Danava conflict as prolonged and intense, pointing to the recurring struggle of dharma and adharma in the world; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such turmoil highlights the need to seek refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva), who alone grants steadiness and ultimate release beyond fear.

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

By depicting a terrifying, drawn-out battle, the text implicitly emphasizes the devotee’s reliance on Saguna Shiva—approached through Linga worship—for protection, inner courage, and clarity when worldly forces clash and the mind is shaken.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to stabilize the mind amid conflict by japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and worship with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha, cultivating fearlessness and devotion while remembering Shiva as the supreme refuge.