Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

अथ क्रुद्धो दानवेन्द्रो धनुराकृष्य रंहसा । चिक्षेप दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि देव्यै वै मंत्रपूर्वकम्

Transliteration

atha kruddho dānavendro dhanurākṛṣya raṃhasā | cikṣepa divyānyastrāṇi devyai vai maṃtrapūrvakam

Translation

Alors, courroucé, le seigneur des Dānavas banda vivement son arc et, après les avoir investies de mantras, lança sur la Déesse des armes célestes.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अनन्तरार्थक

• क्रुद्धः: angered
• क्रुद्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दानवेन्द्रः: lord of the demons
• दानवेन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आकृष्य: having drawn
• आकृष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having drawn/pulled’

• रंहसा: with speed; swiftly
• रंहसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रंहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक—‘वेग’ (speed)

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दिव्यानि: divine
• दिव्यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• अस्त्राणि: weapons
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• देव्यै: for/to the Goddess
• देव्यै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), निश्चयार्थक/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक (indeed)

• मन्त्रपूर्वकम्: with incantation; preceded by mantra
• मन्त्रपूर्वकम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Danava (demon-king)

FAQs

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

It shows that even worldly power in battle relies on mantra (inner spiritual force), yet the Goddess—aligned with the supreme Shaiva order—remains beyond the mere force of weaponry.

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

The Yuddhakhaṇḍa frames cosmic conflict where divine power is rooted in sacred authority; in Shaiva practice, that authority culminates in devotion to Saguna Shiva (and Devi) and the stabilizing refuge of the Liṅga as the seat of divine presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse highlights mantra-pūrvaka action—undertaking acts only after sanctifying the mind through japa; a practical takeaway is steady Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before any major undertaking.