Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

कालनेमिर्निशुंभश्च ह्युभौ लंबोदरं शरैः । युगपच्चख्नतुः क्रोधादाशीविषसमैर्द्रुतम्

Transliteration

kālanemirniśuṃbhaśca hyubhau laṃbodaraṃ śaraiḥ | yugapaccakhnatuḥ krodhādāśīviṣasamairdrutam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ കാലനേമിയും നിശുംബനും—ഇരുവരും—ക്രോധത്തിൽ, വിഷസർപ്പസമമായ മാരകശരങ്ങളാൽ, ഒരേസമയം വേഗത്തിൽ ലംബോദരനെ പ്രഹരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• कालनेमिः: Kālanemi
• कालनेमिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालनेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper noun

• निशुम्भः: Niśumbha
• निशुम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper noun

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle: indeed/for)

• उभौ: both (of them)
• उभौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘both’ as subject (dual)

• लंबोदरम्: Lambodara
• लंबोदरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper epithet ‘pot-bellied one’ as object

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrument

• युगपत्: simultaneously
• युगपत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपत् (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (simultaneously)

• चख्नतुः: the two struck
• चख्नतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खन्/खन्? (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद; form used in sense ‘they two struck’ (√खन्/√खन् ‘to strike/dig’ in epic usage)

• क्रोधात्: from anger
• क्रोधात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ablative of cause

• आशीविषसमैः: like venomous snakes
• आशीविषसमैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशीविष + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘equal to venomous serpents’ qualifying ‘शरैः’

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूप)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb): quickly

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kālanemi
• Niśumbha
• Lambodara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the intensity of krodha (anger) and violent intent, reminding the devotee—per Shaiva Siddhanta—to cultivate detachment and seek refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva), who alone grants protection and inner steadiness amid turmoil.

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

In the Yuddha-kathā (battle narrative), devotees are encouraged to remember Saguna Shiva as the protector and regulator of karma; Linga-worship centers the mind in Shiva’s presence so one is not overpowered by fear, hatred, or anger like the combatants shown here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to pacify krodha, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence—turning the mind from reactive violence toward Shiva-centered restraint.