Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

शिवशङ्खचूडयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa

Devanagari script

तदंगेषु च शस्त्रोघैस्ताडयामास कोपतः । महारुद्रो विरूपाक्षो दुष्टदण्डस्सतां गति

Transliteration

tadaṃgeṣu ca śastroghaistāḍayāmāsa kopataḥ | mahārudro virūpākṣo duṣṭadaṇḍassatāṃ gati

Translation

Alors, dans sa colère, Mahārudra—Virūpākṣa—frappa ses membres d’une pluie d’armes. Il est le châtieur des méchants et le refuge, l’ultime voie des justes.

Word by Word

• तत्: his/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; संकेत/सम्बन्ध (of him/that)

• अङ्गेषु: on the limbs
• अङ्गेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• शस्त्रोघैः: with torrents/volleys of weapons
• शस्त्रोघैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्रोघ (प्रातिपदिक; शस्त्र + ओघ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ताडयामास: struck/beat
• ताडयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ताडय् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; परिप्रयोग (periphrastic perfect)

• कोपतः: from anger
• कोपतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (out of anger)

• महारुद्रः: Mahārudra
• महारुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महारुद्र (प्रातिपदिक; महा + रुद्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विरूपाक्षः: Virūpākṣa
• विरूपाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरूपाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; विरूप + अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one whose eyes are of strange form)

• दुष्टदण्डः: punisher of the wicked
• दुष्टदण्डः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्टदण्ड (प्रातिपदिक; दुष्ट + दण्ड)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/विशेषणार्थ (epithet)

• सताम्: of the good
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• गतिः: refuge; goal
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahārudra/Virūpākṣa)

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śiva as both Niyantā (divine governor) and Anugrahakartā (bestower of grace): he restrains adharmic forces (duṣṭa-daṇḍa) while remaining the ultimate refuge and goal for the virtuous (satāṃ gatiḥ).

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

Though the scene is martial, it points to Saguna Śiva—who acts within the world to protect dharma. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see the same Supreme Lord behind both fierce protection and compassionate refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take shelter in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a dharmic intention—seeking inner purification so one moves from wicked tendencies toward sat (the virtuous path).