Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

समरायोद्यतश्चाभूत्पुनर्गजमुखो विभुः । प्रहस्य जघ्नतुः क्रोधात्तोत्रेणैव महाद्विपम्

Transliteration

samarāyodyataścābhūtpunargajamukho vibhuḥ | prahasya jaghnatuḥ krodhāttotreṇaiva mahādvipam

Translation

再び、象の御面をもつ大いなる主は戦いに向けて身構えられた。やがて笑みを含み、憤りのままに、ただトートラ（象使いの鉤）だけを武器として大象を打ち倒した。

Word by Word

• समराय: for battle
• समराय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; purpose dative ‘for battle’

• उद्यतः: ready/raised
• उद्यतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + यत् (धातु) → उद्यत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP in active sense ‘raised/ready’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifies ‘विभुः’

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

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (अorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-अव्यय (again)

• गजमुखः: elephant-faced
• गजमुखः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘elephant-faced’ qualifying ‘विभुः’

• विभुः: the mighty one (lord)
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु) → प्रहस्य (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having laughed’

• जघ्नतुः: the two struck
• जघ्नतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘they two struck/killed’

• क्रोधात्: out of anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ablative of cause (हेतु)

• तोत्रेण: with a goad
• तोत्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrument

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• महाद्विपम्: the great elephant
• महाद्विपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + द्विप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘great elephant’ as object

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights divine mastery: the elephant-faced Lord (Gaṇeśa) needs no elaborate arsenal—his inner śakti is sufficient. In Shaiva thought, true power is disciplined power, used to restore dharma with minimal means.

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

Gaṇeśa’s battle-readiness and effortless victory reflect Saguna Shiva’s compassionate governance through His divine retinue. Worship of the Liṅga honors the transcendent Pati, while devotion to Gaṇeśa acknowledges the same Shiva-tattva operating in accessible, protective forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa for steadiness in conflict—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—combined with mindful restraint of krodha (anger), so one acts firmly yet minimally for dharma.