Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

वीरभद्र–देवयुद्धवर्णनम्

Vīrabhadra and the Battle with the Devas

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रपालस्समायांतं चक्रमालोक्य वेगतः । तत्रागत्यागतो वीरश्चाग्रसत्सहसा बली

Transliteration

kṣetrapālassamāyāṃtaṃ cakramālokya vegataḥ | tatrāgatyāgato vīraścāgrasatsahasā balī

Translation

疾く迫り来る円盤を見て、剛勇なる英雄クシェートラパーラはただちにそこへ赴き、忽然たる力でその最前を掴み取った。

Word by Word

• क्षेत्रपालः: the guardian of the field (Kṣetrapāla)
• क्षेत्रपालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रस्य पालः)

• समायान्तम्: approaching
• समायान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘सम्-आ-यान्त’ = coming/approaching

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• वेगतः: swiftly
• वेगतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘वेगात्/वेगतः’ = quickly, with speed

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund)

• आगतः: arrived
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘आगत’ = arrived

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• अग्रसत्: advanced to the front / stood before
• अग्रसत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अग्र-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; √सद् (सीदति) with preverb ‘अग्र’ = sat/placed himself in front, advanced

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• बली: the strong one
• बली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘बलिन्’ = strong

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapāla
• Cakra (discus)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharmic courage: a devoted guardian acts with alertness and strength to neutralize danger, reflecting the Shaiva ideal that power becomes sacred when used to protect righteousness under Shiva’s order.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the episode fits Saguna Shiva’s governance of the world—where protection, restraint, and heroic action manifest as Shiva’s grace working through His attendants and devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steadiness and vigilance in sadhana: maintain daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate inner control so that sudden obstacles are ‘caught’ by awareness rather than allowed to harm the mind.