Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

आसीत्सुतुमुलं युद्धं देवदैत्यसमाकुलम् । रुण्डमुंडांकितं सर्वं क्षणेन समपद्यत

Transliteration

āsītsutumulaṃ yuddhaṃ devadaityasamākulam | ruṇḍamuṃḍāṃkitaṃ sarvaṃ kṣaṇena samapadyata

Translation

神々とダイティヤの間で激しい戦いが起こった。瞬く間に、戦場は切り離された胴体と頭部で埋め尽くされた。

Word by Word

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सु-तुमुलम्: very tumultuous
• सु-तुमुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + तुमुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (intensive: very tumultuous)

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

• देव-दैत्य-समाकुलम्: crowded with gods and demons
• देव-दैत्य-समाकुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + दैत्य + समाकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (देवैः दैत्यैः च समाकुलम् = filled with gods and demons)

• रुण्ड-मुण्ड-अंकितम्: marked with headless trunks and severed heads
• रुण्ड-मुण्ड-अंकितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुण्ड + मुण्ड + अंकित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (marked with trunks and heads)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• क्षणेन: in a moment
• क्षणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; काल-करण (instrument of time)

• समपद्यत: came to be / happened
• समपद्यत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √पद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Daityas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the swift, overwhelming power of karmic consequence and the impermanence of embodied life; in Shaiva Siddhānta, such scenes urge vairāgya (detachment) and taking refuge in Pati (Śiva), the Lord who alone grants lasting liberation beyond violent change.

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

Though the verse describes outward conflict, it indirectly points to the need for an inner sanctuary: worship of the Śiva-liṅga as Saguna Śiva steadies the mind amid turmoil, reminding the devotee that the Lord is the stable ground (ādhāra) while worldly conditions shift in an instant.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” for inner composure and fearlessness; applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and maintaining remembrance of Śiva cultivates detachment from the body and firm orientation toward mokṣa.