Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

निशुंभशुंभप्रमुखा दैत्येन्द्राश्च सहस्रशः । अभिजग्मुश्शिवं वेगाद्रोषात्संदष्टदच्छदाः

Transliteration

niśuṃbhaśuṃbhapramukhā daityendrāśca sahasraśaḥ | abhijagmuśśivaṃ vegādroṣātsaṃdaṣṭadacchadāḥ

Translation

ນິຊຸມພະ ແລະ ຊຸມພະ ເປັນຫົວໜ້າ ພວກຈອມໄດຕະຍະນັບພັນໆ ພຸ້ນເຂົ້າຫາ ພຣະສິວະ ດ້ວຍຄວາມໄວຢ່າງຫຼາຍ ໃຈເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍໂທສະ ແລະກັດແຂ້ວແນ່ນດ້ວຍຄວາມເກຣີຍດ.

Word by Word

• निशुम्भ-शुम्भ-प्रमुखाः: led by Niśumbha and Śumbha
• निशुम्भ-शुम्भ-प्रमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; समासः—(निशुम्भश्च शुम्भश्च) इत्यादयः येषां ते (प्रमुखाः) इति अर्थे; समूहवाचक कर्तृपदम्

• दैत्येन्द्राः: lords of the demons
• दैत्येन्द्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्येन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दैत्यानाम् इन्द्राः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• सहस्रशः: in thousands
• सहस्रशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्रशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: by thousands)

• अभिजग्मुः: went/advanced towards
• अभिजग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• वेगात्: from/with speed
• वेगात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative); एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause: due to speed)

• रोषात्: from anger
• रोषात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी; एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (cause: due to anger)

• संदष्ट-दच्छदाः: with lips/teeth clenched
• संदष्ट-दच्छदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-दंश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + दच्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः—संदष्टाः दच्छदाः (दन्तच्छदाः=ओष्ठाः/दन्तावरणानि) येषां ते; कर्तृविशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nishumbha
• Shumbha
• Daityas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how krodha (wrath) and ahaṅkāra (ego) drive the bound soul (paśu) into reckless conflict with Pati (Śiva). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, such passions are part of pāśa (bondage) and cannot overpower Śiva, who remains the sovereign reality and liberator.

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

Though framed as a battle scene, it reinforces the Purāṇic vision of Saguna Śiva—approachable as the Lord who protects devotees and subdues adharma. Linga-worship trains the mind to surrender hostility and pride, turning the same intensity of emotion into steadfast bhakti toward Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter anger with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady the mind with Śiva-dhyāna. Applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing Rudrākṣa are also traditional Shaiva supports for cooling passions and cultivating restraint.