Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces

Devanagari script

सुतीक्ष्णखङ्गोद्यतपाणिरूपा समाययौ नैरृति घोरचापा । तोयालिका वारणपाशहस्ता विनिर्गता युद्धमभीप्समाना

Transliteration

sutīkṣṇakhaṅgodyatapāṇirūpā samāyayau nairṛti ghoracāpā | toyālikā vāraṇapāśahastā vinirgatā yuddhamabhīpsamānā

Translation

Nairṛti arriva, brandissant une épée d’une acuité tranchante et un arc redoutable. Toyālikā sortit aussi, tenant en main un lacet pour éléphants, désireuse de livrer bataille.

Word by Word

• सुतीक्ष्ण-खङ्ग-उद्यत-पाणि-रूपा: having the form with hand raised holding a very sharp sword
• सुतीक्ष्ण-खङ्ग-उद्यत-पाणि-रूपा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-तीक्ष्ण-खङ्ग-उद्यत-पाणि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (सुतीक्ष्णः खङ्गः, तेन उद्यतः पाणिः, तादृशं रूपं यस्याः)

• समाययौ: came, arrived
• समाययौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नैरृति: Nairṛti (goddess/power of the southwest)
• नैरृति: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (नैरृतिदेवता/दिक्पाल-शक्ति)

• घोरचापा: with a dreadful bow
• घोरचापा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर-चाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (घोरः चापः यस्याः)

• तोयालिका: Toyālikā (name of a goddess/power)
• तोयालिका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयालिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वारणपाशहस्ता: whose hand holds an elephant-noose
• वारणपाशहस्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारण-पाश-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वारणपाशः, स हस्तः यस्याः)

• विनिर्गता: came forth, emerged
• विनिर्गता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-निर्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle/कृदन्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘gone out/issued forth’

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अभीप्समाना: desiring
• अभीप्समाना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-ईप्स् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle/कृदन्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Nairṛti
• Toyālikā

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Shakti’s fierce, protective forces entering battle—symbolizing how divine power removes obstacles to dharma. In Shaiva Siddhanta language, such forces operate under the supreme Lord (Pati) to loosen the bonds (pāśa) that keep beings (paśu) in fear and disorder.

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

Though the verse is martial, it supports Saguna worship by showing the Lord’s cosmic governance expressed through manifest powers and attendants. Devotees worship the Shiva-Linga as the stable center (Shiva) from which dynamic energies (Shakti and her hosts) act to protect righteousness and restore balance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is fearlessness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and taking refuge in Shiva before conflict (inner or outer). Meditatively, contemplate the ‘pāśa’ (bondage) being cut by divine grace, supported by simple Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and steady mantra-japa.