Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)

Devanagari script

प्रथमैर्भीमविक्रांतैः क्रांतान्मृत्युप्रमाथिभिः । सूदितान्पतितान्पश्य हुंडादीन्मद्गणान्वरान्

Transliteration

prathamairbhīmavikrāṃtaiḥ krāṃtānmṛtyupramāthibhiḥ | sūditānpatitānpaśya huṃḍādīnmadgaṇānvarān

Translation

ನೋಡು—ಭೀಕರ ಪರಾಕ್ರಮದ ಅಗ್ರ ಯೋಧರು, ಮರಣವನ್ನೇ ಕಿತ್ತುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ದಾಳಿಕೋರರು, ಹುಂಡ ಮೊದಲಾದ ನನ್ನ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಗಣರನ್ನು ಹೊಡೆದು ಕೆಡವಿ ಹತರನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ; ಅವರು ಬಿದ್ದಿದ್ದಾರೆ।

Word by Word

• प्रथमैः: by the foremost
• प्रथमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; तृतीया (Instrumental); विशेषण

• भीम-विक्रान्तैः: by those of terrible prowess
• भीम-विक्रान्तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि + क्रम् धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘भीमं विक्रान्तं ये’); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; तृतीया (Instrumental)

• क्रान्तान्: overpowered, attacked
• क्रान्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्रम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• मृत्यु-प्रमाथिभिः: by death-crushing (warriors)
• मृत्यु-प्रमाथिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमाथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘मृत्युः प्रमाथ्यते येन/यैः’); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; तृतीया (Instrumental)

• सूदितान्: slain, destroyed
• सूदितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सूद्/सूदय् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• पतितान्: fallen
• पतितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; पत् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• पश्य: see!
• पश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन

• हुंड-आदीन्: Huṇḍa and others
• हुंड-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुंड (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अव्ययार्थ/‘आदि’ = ‘and others’); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• मत्-गणान्: my troops/attendants
• मत्-गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘मम गणाः’); पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative)

• वरान्: excellent, best
• वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; द्वितीया (Accusative); विशेषण (qualifying ‘गणान्’)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as commander of the gaṇas, in the battle narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Hunda

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even mighty forces in the cosmic drama can fall, while Śiva as Pati remains the ultimate refuge; for the devotee, it points to surrender beyond fear, especially fear of death (mṛtyu).

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

In Saguna form, Śiva is portrayed as the Lord of gaṇas guiding and protecting His retinue; Linga-worship recalls the same Lord as the steady, transcendent center even when the world shows defeat and upheaval.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mṛtyu-bhaya-nivṛtti through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating fearlessness and dependence on Śiva.