Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra

Devanagari script

तत्त्रिशूलप्रहारेण स पपात क्षितौ तदा । पतितोऽपि महातेजास्तारकः पुनरुत्थितः

Transliteration

tattriśūlaprahāreṇa sa papāta kṣitau tadā | patito'pi mahātejāstārakaḥ punarutthitaḥ

Translation

ಆ ತ್ರಿಶೂಲಪ್ರಹಾರದಿಂದ ಅವನು ಆಗ ಭೂಮಿಗೆ ಬಿದ್ದನು. ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದರೂ ಮಹಾತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯಾದ ತಾರಕನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಎದ್ದು ನಿಂತನು.

Word by Word

• तत्: with that
• तत्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) एकवचनार्थे अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (with that)

• त्रिशूल-प्रहारेण: by the blow of the trident
• त्रिशूल-प्रहारेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (triśūlasya prahāraḥ)

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

• पपात: fell
• पपात: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षितौ: on the ground
• क्षितौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• पतितः: fallen
• पतितः: Karta (कर्ता) / Subject complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• अपि: even/though
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• महातेजाः: of great radiance
• महातेजाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; कर्मधारय (great in splendor)

• तारकः: Tāraka
• तारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उत्थितः: rose up
• उत्थितः: Karta (कर्ता) / Subject complement
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; ‘risen up’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Tāraka
• Triśūla (trident)

FAQs

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

It portrays the persistence of asuric will: even after a divine strike, the ego-driven force rises again—signaling that inner bondage (pāśa) may reassert itself until it is fully uprooted by steadfast devotion and divine grace (Pati’s śakti).

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

The trident represents Shiva’s Saguna power acting in the world to subdue adharma. In Linga-worship, devotees seek that same Lord’s purifying force to pierce the threefold impurities and stabilize the mind in dharma and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the Triśūla as the Lord’s power over the three guṇas and repeat the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to weaken recurring inner tendencies that ‘rise again’ after temporary restraint.