Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

शिवशङ्खचूडयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa

Devanagari script

ततः परशुमादाय हस्तेन दानवेश्वरः । धावति स्म हरं वेगाच्छंखचूडः क्रुधाकुलः

Transliteration

tataḥ paraśumādāya hastena dānaveśvaraḥ | dhāvati sma haraṃ vegācchaṃkhacūḍaḥ krudhākulaḥ

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ദാനവേശ്വരനായ ശംഖചൂഡൻ കൈയിൽ പരശു എടുത്ത്, ക്രോധാകുലനായി, അതിവേഗത്തിൽ ഹരനോടേക്ക് പാഞ്ഞു.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (ततः = ‘then/from there’)

• paraśum: axe
• paraśum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paraśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having taken’

• hastena: with (his) hand
• hastena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dānava-īśvaraḥ: lord of the demons
• dānava-īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhāvati: runs
• dhāvati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhāv (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• sma: indeed/used to (narrative past)
• sma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating past narration with present/imperfect (स्म-निपात)

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म; लक्ष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vegāt: from/with speed
• vegāt: Apādāna (अपादान; कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vega (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); cause/source ablative

• śaṃkha-cūḍaḥ: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• śaṃkha-cūḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cūḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name

• krudhā-ākulaḥ: agitated with anger
• krudhā-ākulaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘agitated by anger’; qualifying ‘śaṃkha-cūḍaḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Hara)
• Shankhachuda

FAQs

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

It highlights how krodha (anger) propels the bound soul toward destructive action, while Hara stands as Pati—the unshaken Lord beyond the passions that bind beings (pāśa). The asura’s speed and fury contrast with Śiva’s transcendence and sovereign calm.

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

Hara here is Saguna Śiva—personally present in the cosmic drama, receiving the onrush of hostile forces. For devotees, Linga-worship trains the mind to turn from reactive anger to steady remembrance of Śiva as the refuge who dissolves inner enemies like wrath and pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter anger with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and mental offering at the Śiva-liṅga, cultivating śānti (peace) instead of krodha; if initiated in Shaiva practice, one may also apply vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of restraint and detachment.