Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas

Devanagari script

ततो भेरीमृदंगाश्च पटहानकगोमुखाः । विनेदुर्विहता वीरैश्शृण्वतां सुभयानकाः

Transliteration

tato bherīmṛdaṃgāśca paṭahānakagomukhāḥ | vinedurvihatā vīraiśśṛṇvatāṃ subhayānakāḥ

Translation

પછી ભેરી, મૃદંગ, પટહ, આનક અને ગોમુખ શંખ-શિંગાં—વીરોના પ્રહારથી ગુંજી ઊઠ્યાં; સાંભળનારને તે એકસાથે શુભ પણ ભયાનક પણ લાગ્યાં।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्मात्/अनन्तरम्; adverb)

• भेरी-मृदङ्गाः: kettledrums and mṛdaṅgas
• भेरी-मृदङ्गाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी (प्रातिपदिक) + मृदङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (भेर्यश्च मृदङ्गाश्च)

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

• पटह-आनक-गोमुखाः: paṭahas, ānakas, and gomukhas (instruments)
• पटह-आनक-गोमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटह (प्रातिपदिक) + आनक (प्रातिपदिक) + गोमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (पटहाश्च आनकाश्च गोमुखाश्च)

• विनेदुः: resounded
• विनेदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विहताः: being struck (played)
• विहताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘(वाद्याः)’ इति कर्तृपदस्य विशेषण—“struck/played”

• वीरैः: by heroes/warriors
• वीरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• शृण्वताम्: of the listeners
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present Active Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; जनसमूहस्य विशेषण (of those who were hearing)

• सुभय-आनकाः: very terrifying
• सुभय-आनकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + आनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सुभयाः आनकाः/भयानकाः—very frightening)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse evokes sacred martial sound (nāda) that is simultaneously auspicious and awe-inspiring, reflecting how divine power can dissolve fear while awakening reverence—an inner readiness to align the mind with Pati (Śiva) rather than be ruled by pasha (bondage).

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

Though it describes outward battle-sounds, it supports Saguna devotion by portraying the Lord’s divine order manifesting through heroic forces; devotees remember Śiva as the sovereign protector whose presence turns even fearsome events into auspicious occasions for surrender and steadfast bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use sound as support for concentration: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while listening inwardly for calm, rhythmic awareness—transforming agitation into focused devotion; optionally pair with Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa as traditional aids.