Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

तारक-कुमार-युद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Tāraka and Kumāra

Devanagari script

शक्तिहस्तौ च तौ वीरौ युयुधाते परस्परम् । सर्वेषां पश्यतां तत्र महाश्चर्यवतां मुने

Transliteration

śaktihastau ca tau vīrau yuyudhāte parasparam | sarveṣāṃ paśyatāṃ tatra mahāścaryavatāṃ mune

Translation

ഹേ മുനേ, ആ രണ്ടു വീരരും കൈയിൽ ശക്തി (കുന്തം) ധരിച്ചു അവിടെ പരസ്പരം യുദ്ധം ചെയ്തു; എല്ലാവരും നോക്കി നിൽക്കേ അത്ഭുതത്തിൽ മുങ്ങി।

Word by Word

• śaktihastau: having spears in their hands
• śaktihastau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (शक्तिः हस्तयोः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; adjective to ‘tau vīrau’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• vīrau: heroes
• vīrau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• yuyudhāte: fought
• yuyudhāte: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• parasparam: with each other
• parasparam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paraspara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परस्पर-अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of all’

• paśyatām: of those watching
• paśyatām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paśy (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle), परस्मैपद-भाव, पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘while (they) were watching’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• mahāścaryavatām: of those greatly astonished
• mahāścaryavatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + āścarya (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (महद् आश्चर्यं येषाम्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; adjective to implied ‘janānām’/‘sarveṣām’

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the awe-inspiring nature of divine events: even intense conflict becomes a “wonder” when seen within Shiva’s cosmic order, reminding devotees to witness life’s opposites with steadiness and devotion to Pati (Shiva), the Lord who governs all outcomes.

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

Though the verse describes a battle scene, it supports Saguna-bhakti: devotees contemplate Shiva’s manifest governance of the world where valor, weapons, and destiny operate under His supreme will—leading the mind back to the Linga as the stable center beyond all motion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate “witness-consciousness” during agitation: recite the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while mentally offering all conflict and fear into Shiva, the inner Linga of awareness, seeking calm and clarity.