Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

देवाः प्रदुद्रुवुः सर्वे येऽन्ये नन्दीश्वरादयः । एक एव कार्त्तिकेयस्तस्थौ समरमूर्द्धनि

Transliteration

devāḥ pradudruvuḥ sarve ye'nye nandīśvarādayaḥ | eka eva kārttikeyastasthau samaramūrddhani

Translation

Tous les dieux s’enfuirent en hâte, avec les autres, à commencer par Nandīśvara ; mais Kārttikeya, seul, demeura inébranlable à l’avant-garde même de la bataille.

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• pradudruvuḥ: fled away
• pradudruvuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dru (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural); उपसर्ग: प्र-

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• anye: others
• anye: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nandīśvara-ādayaḥ: Nandīśvara and others
• nandīśvara-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘आदि’ = ‘and the rest’ (ādi-samāsa)

• ekaḥ: alone/one
• ekaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• kārttikeyaḥ: Kārttikeya (Skanda)
• kārttikeyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārttikeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tasthau: stood
• tasthau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• samara-mūrddhani: on the battlefield’s forefront (lit. on the head of battle)
• samara-mūrddhani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dhairya (steadfast courage) as a Shaiva virtue: even when external supports withdraw, the devotee who is aligned with Shiva’s dharma stands firm, reflecting inner surrender and spiritual resilience.

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

Kārttikeya’s fearlessness is presented as the fruit of devotion to Saguna Shiva—Shiva as the living Lord who empowers His gaṇas and sons; such narratives strengthen śraddhā in Shiva’s protective grace, central to Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for steadiness of mind, along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance of impermanence, cultivating fearlessness in one’s duties.