Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings

Devanagari script

आश्रित्य रूपं जटिलं करालं दंष्ट्रायुधं तीक्ष्णनखं सुनासम् । सैंहं च नारं सुविदारितास्यं मार्तंडकोटिप्रतिमं सुघोरम्

Transliteration

āśritya rūpaṃ jaṭilaṃ karālaṃ daṃṣṭrāyudhaṃ tīkṣṇanakhaṃ sunāsam | saiṃhaṃ ca nāraṃ suvidāritāsyaṃ mārtaṃḍakoṭipratimaṃ sughoram

Translation

彼は恐るべき姿を現した。ジャターの乱れ髪をまとい、凄惨な相をなし、牙を武器とし、剃刀のごとく鋭い爪を備え、鼻筋は整う。獅子にも人にも似て、口を恐ろしく大きく開き、千万の太陽にも比すべき光焔を放つ、きわめて凄絶なる相であった。

Word by Word

• āśritya: having assumed
• āśritya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śri (श्रि धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having assumed/taken resort to’

• rūpam: a form
• rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• jaṭilam: matted-haired
• jaṭilam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies rūpam

• karālam: terrible
• karālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies rūpam

• daṃṣṭrā-āyudham: having fangs as weapons
• daṃṣṭrā-āyudham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṃṣṭrā + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘daṃṣṭrā eva āyudham’ (teeth as weapon)

• tīkṣṇa-nakham: sharp-clawed
• tīkṣṇa-nakham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīkṣṇa + nakha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘sharp-clawed’

• su-nāsam: with a fine nose
• su-nāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + nāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘well-nosed / with fine nose’

• saiṃham: lion-like
• saiṃham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘lion-like’ (from siṃha)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• nāram: man-like
• nāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘human-like/manly’

• su-vidārita-āsyam: with a widely split mouth
• su-vidārita-āsyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + vi-√dṛ (दॄ धातु) + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘āsyaṃ su-vidāritam’ (mouth well-torn/wide-split)

• mārtaṇḍa-koṭi-pratimam: like ten million suns
• mārtaṇḍa-koṭi-pratimam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mārtaṇḍa + koṭi + pratima (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘mārtaṇḍa-koṭyāḥ pratimaṃ’ (like ten million suns)

• su-ghoram: very dreadful
• su-ghoram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीyaa), Singular; ‘very dreadful’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s ugra (fierce) saguna manifestation—an awe-inspiring form that destroys inner impurities (pāśa) like fear, ego, and hostility, protecting devotees and restoring dharma under Pati (Shiva) as supreme Lord.

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

While the Liṅga points to Shiva’s transcendent nirguṇa reality, this description affirms that the same Shiva compassionately becomes saguna—assuming formidable forms to intervene in the world. Worship can therefore be both: Liṅga as the timeless principle and fierce forms as protective divine action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the protector who burns negativity like “ten million suns,” while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). As an outer support, apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivate fearlessness and restraint as offerings to Rudra.