Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

क्रौञ्चशरणागमनम् तथा बाणासुरवधः

Krauñca Seeks Refuge; Slaying of Bāṇāsura

Devanagari script

तं सायुतबलं शक्तिर्द्रुतं कृत्वा च भस्मसात् । गुहोपकंठं सहसाजगामाक्लिष्टवारिणी

Transliteration

taṃ sāyutabalaṃ śaktirdrutaṃ kṛtvā ca bhasmasāt | guhopakaṃṭhaṃ sahasājagāmākliṣṭavāriṇī

Translation

一個師団にも等しい力を具えたシャクティは、たちまち彼を灰燼と化した。ついで疲れを知らず揺るがぬその御力は、直ちにグハ（クマーラ／スカンダ）の傍らへ赴いた。

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (प्रलम्बम् इत्यर्थे)

• सायुतबलम्: having united/combined strength; with amassed force
• सायुतबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सायुत + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सायुतं बलं यस्य/सायुत-बलः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (तम्)

• शक्तिः: the spear (śakti)
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-प्रयोग)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/क्त्वा), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• भस्मसात्: to ashes; into ash
• भस्मसात्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भस्म + सात् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास/निपातात्मक अव्यय; परिणामवाचक (to ashes)

• गुहोपकण्ठम्: to (near) Guha’s side
• गुहोपकण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह + उपकण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गुहस्य उपकण्ठः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक/कालवाचक अव्यय (suddenly/at once)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आक्लिष्टवारिणी: whose flow was unimpeded; unfaltering-streamed
• आक्लिष्टवारिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + क्लिष्ट + वारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (आक्लिष्टा वारिणी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (शक्तिः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Instant bhasmīkaraṇa (reduction to ash) as a miniature analogue of pralaya-fire

Characters & Entities

• Shakti
• Guha (Kartikeya/Skanda)

FAQs

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

The verse uses “bhasmasāt” (reduced to ashes) to highlight Shaiva Siddhanta’s teaching on impermanence: all limited power and ego end in ash, while divine Śakti acts effortlessly in service of the Lord’s purpose.

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

Though the scene is martial, the motif of ash directly connects to Saguna Shiva devotion through bhasma/Tripuṇḍra—reminding the devotee that surrender to Shiva (Pati) transcends the perishable world (pāśa) and empowers righteous action (Śakti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate “bhasma” as a meditation on detachment, and in practice apply sacred ash (Tripuṇḍra) with Shiva-mantra remembrance (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate humility and vairāgya.