Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

स विजित्य दिशस्सर्वा लोकांश्च त्रीन्महासुरः । देवासुरमनुष्येन्द्रान्गंधर्वगरुडोरगान्

Transliteration

sa vijitya diśassarvā lokāṃśca trīnmahāsuraḥ | devāsuramanuṣyendrāngaṃdharvagaruḍoragān

Translation

その大アスラは、あらゆる方角と三界を征服し、デーヴァとアスラの首領、人間界の王たちを屈服させ、さらにガンダルヴァ、ガルダ（Garuḍa）、そしてナーガの蛇族をも従えた。

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• विजित्य: having conquered
• विजित्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having conquered’

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘दिशः’)

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

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

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective) qualifying ‘लोकान्’

• महासुरः: the great asura (demon)
• महासुरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘महान् असुरः’)

• देव-असुर-मनुष्य-इन्द्रान्: the lords among gods, asuras, and humans
• देव-असुर-मनुष्य-इन्द्रान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative)

• गन्धर्व-गरुड-उरगान्: gandharvas, garuḍas, and serpents
• गन्धर्व-गरुड-उरगान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + उरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Human kings (Manuṣyendras)
• Gandharvas
• Garuḍa
• Nāgas (serpents)

FAQs

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

It depicts the peak of asuric power—worldly conquest over all realms and beings—highlighting that dominance over the three worlds is still within saṃsāra and cannot grant liberation; in Shaiva Siddhānta, only Pati (Śiva) can remove pāśa (bondage) and restore dharma.

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

Such verses set the crisis that leads beings to seek refuge in Saguna Śiva—worship of the Liṅga as Śiva’s accessible, protective form—through which grace descends to subdue adharma and re-establish cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

When faced with fear or oppression, the practical Shaiva takeaway is śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s protection and inner mastery.