Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

शङ्खचूडवधकथनम् / The Account of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Slaying

Devanagari script

शंखचूडाभिधो वीरो दानवो देवकंटकः । यथा शिवेन निहतो रणमूर्ध्नि त्रिशूलतः

Transliteration

śaṃkhacūḍābhidho vīro dānavo devakaṃṭakaḥ | yathā śivena nihato raṇamūrdhni triśūlataḥ

Translation

ശംഖചൂഡൻ എന്ന പേരുള്ള ആ വീര ദാനവൻ, ദേവന്മാർക്ക് കണ്ഠകമായ ഉപദ്രവകൻ—യുദ്ധഭൂമിയുടെ ശിരോഭാഗത്ത് ശിവന്റെ ത്രിശൂലാഘാതത്തിൽ എങ്ങനെ നിഹതനായെന്നത്.

Word by Word

• शङ्खचूड-अभिधः: named Śaṅkhacūḍa
• शङ्खचूड-अभिधः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्खचूड (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः: शङ्खचूड इति अभिधा यस्य (नाम-सम्बन्ध)

• वीरः: hero/warrior
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दानवः: demon (Dānava)
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समानाधिकरण to वीरः

• देव-कण्टकः: a thorn to the gods
• देव-कण्टकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: देवानां कण्टकः (trouble/thorn to the gods)

• यथा: how/as
• यथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (how/as)

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निहतः: slain/killed
• निहतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (he) ‘was slain’

• रण-मूर्ध्नि: in the thick of battle
• रण-मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (मूर्धन्), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: रणस्य मूर्ध्नि (in the midst/top of battle)

• त्रिशूलतः: from/with the trident
• त्रिशूलतः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: त्रयः शूलाः यस्य तत् (trident)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Martial episode (Śaṅkhacūḍa-vadha) rather than a Jyotirliṅga origin; highlights Śiva as the remover of deva-affliction and destroyer of adharmic forces.

Significance: Didactic: Śiva’s saṃhāra is protective and dharma-restoring; hearing such līlā is framed as spiritually purifying in the surrounding verses.

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankhachuda

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Pati—the supreme protector of dharma—who removes destructive forces that obstruct the devas and the cosmic order, showing that divine grace can decisively end adharma.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva acting in history as the Lord with attributes (Triśūla-bearing protector). Such narratives support devotional worship of Śiva—whether as Linga (symbol of the Supreme) or as the personal Lord who intervenes to uphold dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva’s Triśūla as the power that pierces ego and impurity; accompany this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, if practiced, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application as a reminder of Śiva’s purifying sovereignty.