Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

महावीरं च सौरं च कालकालं महानलम् । महेश्वरास्त्रं याम्यं च दंडं संमोहनं तथा

Transliteration

mahāvīraṃ ca sauraṃ ca kālakālaṃ mahānalam | maheśvarāstraṃ yāmyaṃ ca daṃḍaṃ saṃmohanaṃ tathā

Translation

तब उसने महावीर और सौर (सूर्य) अस्त्र, कालकाल (मृत्यु का भी मृत्यु) और प्रज्वलित महानल; तथा महेश्वरास्त्र, याम्य, दण्ड और संमोहन अस्त्र भी चला दिए।

Word by Word

• महावीरम्: the Great-hero (weapon/name)
• महावीरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् वीरः)

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

• सौरम्: Saura (solar weapon)
• सौरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• कालकालम्: Kālakāla (Time-of-time)
• कालकालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः/पुनरुक्त-समासः (कालः एव कालः)

• महानलम्: Great-fire (weapon/name)
• महानलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् अनलः)

• महेश्वरास्त्रम्: Maheśvara-weapon
• महेश्वरास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महेश्वरस्य अस्त्रम्)

• याम्यम्: Yāmya (of Yama; weapon)
• याम्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• दण्डम्: staff; punishment-rod
• दण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• संमोहनम्: bewildering (weapon/spell)
• संमोहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + √मुह् (धातु) → संमोहन (प्रातिपदिक, भाव/कर्मणि-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; धातुजन्य-नाम (bewilderment/ensnaring)

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Yama
• Surya

FAQs

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

The verse lists astric powers culminating in the Maheśvara-astra, pointing to the Shaiva teaching that all cosmic forces—sun, fire, death/time, punishment, and even delusion—operate under the sovereignty of Pati (Lord Śiva), who alone can restrain bondage and restore order.

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

These named weapons symbolize Saguna Śiva’s active lordship in the world: the same Maheśvara who is worshipped as the Liṅga manifests protective and corrective powers to subdue adharma, demonstrating that Liṅga-worship is not merely symbolic but devotion to the living governor of all śaktis.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa, meditating on Śiva as Kāla-kāla (the One who transcends time and fear), thereby overcoming inner saṃmoha (delusion).