Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

तमप्यपातयद्भूमौ परिघेण गणेश्वरः । हताः पंच तथा हस्ताः पञ्चभिश्शूलमाददे

Transliteration

tamapyapātayadbhūmau parigheṇa gaṇeśvaraḥ | hatāḥ paṃca tathā hastāḥ pañcabhiśśūlamādade

Translation

ついでガネーシュヴァラは鉄の棍棒で彼を地に打ち倒した。五つの手が斬り落とされると、残る五手でトリシューラを掴み、戦いを続けた。

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that one
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; ‘also/even’

• अपातयत्: made (him) fall
• अपातयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + पत् (धातु) / causative (णिच्)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative): ‘caused to fall’

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• परिघेण: with an iron club/bar
• परिघेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• गणेश्वरः: Gaṇeśvara (lord of the gaṇas)
• गणेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: गण + ईश्वर

• हताः: struck down / cut off
• हताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with हस्ताः)

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally); ‘five’

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• हस्ताः: hands
• हस्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पञ्चभिः: with five (hands)
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण

• शूलम्: a spear/trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आददे: took up
• आददे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It highlights unwavering resolve in dharma: even when strength is diminished, one continues one’s righteous duty—symbolically teaching the devotee steadiness (dhairya) and one-pointed commitment to Shiva’s order.

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

The verse presents Saguna-divinity in action—Shiva’s divine retinue led by Gaṇeśa upholds cosmic order. Such narratives support bhakti toward the manifest Lord, which in Shaiva Siddhanta purifies the soul and prepares it for Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steadfast japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during adversity, combined with calm, disciplined worship (e.g., offering bilva leaves) to cultivate inner strength and devotion.