Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra

Devanagari script

ता दृष्ट्वा शंकरस्तत्र चिक्षे पास्त्रं च लीलया । माहेश्वरं महादिव्यं सर्वमायाविनाशनम्

Transliteration

tā dṛṣṭvā śaṃkarastatra cikṣe pāstraṃ ca līlayā | māheśvaraṃ mahādivyaṃ sarvamāyāvināśanam

Translation

അവരെ അവിടെ കണ്ട ശങ്കരൻ ലീലാഭാവത്തോടെ മഹാദിവ്യമായ, സർവ്വമായാവിനാശകമായ മാഹേശ്വരാസ്ത്രം എറിഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• tāḥ: those (illusions)
• tāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; pronoun referring to māyāḥ

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश्) (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Kṛdanta, Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √dṛś

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• cikṣe: cast/threw
• cikṣe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣi (क्षि) (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ/लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); here in sense ‘threw/cast’ (क्षिप्-अर्थे)

• pa-astram: a counter-weapon
• pa-astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pa (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-सदृश) + astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; read as pāstram = pa + astram (avyayībhāva), ‘counter-weapon/warding weapon’ (पास्त्रम्)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• līlayā: playfully/with ease
• līlayā: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; used adverbially

• māheśvaram: Maheśvara-related
• māheśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with astram (understood)

• mahā-divyam: greatly divine
• mahā-divyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: ‘great and divine’

• sarva-māyā-vināśanam: destroying all illusions
• sarva-māyā-vināśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + vināśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa chain: ‘destroyer of all illusions’; agrees with astram (understood)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the battle account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) whose power dissolves māyā—the deluding force that binds the soul. His “playful” act indicates divine sovereignty: liberation is ultimately granted by Śiva’s effortless grace, not by worldly strength.

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

The Maheśvara weapon symbolizes Saguna Śiva’s active, protective presence in the world. Linga-worship similarly approaches Śiva as the gracious Lord who dispels ignorance and māyā, making the devotee steady in truth and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence—both aimed at cutting through māyā and stabilizing the mind in Śiva.