Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

राहोर्विमोचनानन्तरं जलन्धरस्य सैन्योद्योगः — Rahu’s Aftermath and Jalandhara’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

अथ रुद्रमुखात्कृत्या बभूवातीवभीषणा । तालजंघोदरी वक्त्रा स्तनापीडितभूरुहा

Transliteration

atha rudramukhātkṛtyā babhūvātīvabhīṣaṇā | tālajaṃghodarī vaktrā stanāpīḍitabhūruhā

Translation

するとルドラの口より、きわめて恐るべきクリティヤが現れた。脛と腹はタール樹の幹のごとく、顔は凄惨で、乳房は胸を押しつぶすほどに重く、その姿はいよいよ戦慄を誘った。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; sequence)

• रुद्र-मुखात्: from Rudra’s mouth
• रुद्र-मुखात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य मुखम्)

• कृत्या: the Kṛtyā (a created female spirit)
• कृत्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• बभूव: came into being/became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अतीव: very/exceedingly
• अतीव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; intensifier)

• भीषणा: terrible
• भीषणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कृत्या)

• ताल-जङ्घ-उदरी: having palm-tree-like legs and a (huge) belly
• ताल-जङ्घ-उदरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक) + उदरिन्/उदरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘तालवत् जङ्घे यस्याः सा’ + ‘उदरी’ (having a belly); बहुव्रीहिरूपेण कृत्यायाः विशेषणम्

• वक्त्रा: with a mouth/face
• वक्त्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; वर्णनार्थे—‘with a (certain) face/mouth’

• स्तन-आपीडित-भूरुहा: whose body-hair (bhūruha) is pressed down by her breasts
• स्तन-आपीडित-भूरुहा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तन (प्रातिपदिक) + आपीडित (कृदन्त, √पीड् धातु) + भूरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘स्तनैः आपीडिताः भूरुहाः (रोमाः) यस्याः सा’ (hair/foliage-like growth pressed by breasts); कृत्यायाः विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Ugra-śakti manifestation: a battle-epiphany of Rudra’s destructive agency (saṃhāra) taking embodied form.

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Kṛtyā

FAQs

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

It highlights Saguna Rudra’s sovereign power: from His own being (His mouth/command) arises a fierce śakti that executes divine protection and righteous retribution—showing Shiva as Pati who controls and deploys powers for dharma.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s active lordship in the world—He is not merely an abstract Absolute but the living Lord whose will manifests protective energies. Linga worship trains the devotee to surrender to that supreme will and seek refuge in Shiva’s guardianship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Rudra’s protective presence and inner fearlessness.