Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

तं बालान्तिकमायातं तारकासुरमोजसा । आजघान च वज्रेण शक्रो गुहपुरस्सरः

Transliteration

taṃ bālāntikamāyātaṃ tārakāsuramojasā | ājaghāna ca vajreṇa śakro guhapurassaraḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ബലത്തിൽ അഹങ്കരിച്ച് ബാലന്റെ അടുത്തേക്ക് വന്ന താരകാസുരനെ, ഗുഹയുടെ മുൻപിൽ മുന്നേറി ശക്രൻ വജ്രംകൊണ്ട് പ്രഹരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• बाल-अन्तिकम्: near the boy
• बाल-अन्तिकम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial), अर्थः—'बालस्य अन्तिके' = near the boy

• आयातम्: having come
• आयातम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'आगतं/प्राप्तम्'

• तारक-असुरम्: Tāraka the demon
• तारक-असुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (तारकः असुरः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ओजसा: with might
• ओजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental—'with strength'

• आ-जघान: struck down
• आ-जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: आ-; अर्थः—struck/slew

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

• वज्रेण: with the thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental—'with the thunderbolt'

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• गुह-पुरः-सरः: having Guha in front (led by Guha)
• गुह-पुरः-सरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गुहः पुरः यस्य सः / 'with Guha in front'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् शक्रस्य

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Kartikeya (Guha/Kumāra)
• Tārakāsura

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma being protected when arrogance (ojas-driven asuric pride) threatens the divine purpose; even mighty devas act as instruments when Shiva’s will operates through Kumāra’s mission.

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

Though the scene is martial, the theology is Saguna: Shiva’s governance of the cosmos is seen through empowered beings (Kumāra, Indra). Devotional remembrance of such līlās reinforces trust in Shiva as Pati who subdues adharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate inner protection and humility, countering the ‘ojas’ of ego that leads to downfall.