Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

रणे शांतः पश्चात्प्रमथपतिना भिन्नहृदयस्त्रिशूले सप्रोतो नभसि विधृतस्स्थाणुसदृशः । अधःकायश्शुष्कस्नपनकिरणैर्जीर्णतनुमाञ्जलासारेर्मेघैः पवनसहितैः क्लेदितवपुः

Transliteration

raṇe śāṃtaḥ paścātpramathapatinā bhinnahṛdayastriśūle saproto nabhasi vidhṛtassthāṇusadṛśaḥ | adhaḥkāyaśśuṣkasnapanakiraṇairjīrṇatanumāñjalāsārermeghaiḥ pavanasahitaiḥ kleditavapuḥ

Translation

യുദ്ധത്തിൽ അവൻ നിശ്ചലനായി; പിന്നെ പ്രമഥപതി പിന്നിൽ നിന്ന് ത്രിശൂലത്തോടെ അവന്റെ ഹൃദയം ഭേദിച്ചു. ആ ത്രിശൂലത്തിൽ കുത്തപ്പെട്ടവനായി, ആകാശത്തിൽ ഉയർത്തി പിടിക്കപ്പെട്ട്, തൂണുപോലെ അചലമായി നിന്നു. താഴെഭാഗം തപ്ത-ശുദ്ധികര കിരണങ്ങളിൽ ഉണങ്ങി ജീർണ്ണമായി; എങ്കിലും കാറ്റോടുകൂടിയ മഴമേഘങ്ങൾ അവന്റെ ദേഹം നനച്ചു.

Word by Word

• raṇe: in battle
• raṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• śāntaḥ: calm/quiet
• śāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (कृदन्त; √śam शम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: afterwards)

• pramatha-patinā: by the lord of the Pramathas (Śiva)
• pramatha-patinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramatha (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रमथानां पतिः)

• bhinna-hṛdayaḥ: whose heart was split
• bhinna-hṛdayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त; √bhid भिद्) + hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य हृदयं भिन्नम्)

• triśūle: on the trident
• triśūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: triśūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• sa-protaḥ: impaled/threaded (thereon)
• sa-protaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + prota (कृदन्त; √pru/√pruñ? प्रोत = √vī/√pru?; प्रचलित: √pru/√pruñ ‘to string’ → prota ‘threaded’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स-’ उपसर्गयुक्त विशेषण (together/with; fully threaded)

• nabhasi: in the sky
• nabhasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• vidhṛtaḥ: held/suspended
• vidhṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhṛta (कृदन्त; √dhṛ धृ + vi)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• sthāṇu-sadṛśaḥ: like a pillar
• sthāṇu-sadṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthāṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (स्थाणु-सदृशः)

• adhaḥ-kāyaḥ: with the lower body (hanging) downward
• adhaḥ-kāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhaḥ (अव्यय) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययपूर्वपद-तत्पुरुष (अधः स्थितः कायः यस्य)

• śuṣka-snapana-kiraṇaiḥ: by the dry bathing-like rays
• śuṣka-snapana-kiraṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṣka (प्रातिपदिक) + snapana (प्रातिपदिक) + kiraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शुष्कं स्नपनं येषां ते किरणाः / स्नपनकिरणाः)

• jīrṇa-tanumān: having a withered body
• jīrṇa-tanumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīrṇa (कृदन्त; √jṛ जॄ) + tanumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (जीर्णा तनुः यस्य)

• jala-āsāraiḥ: by showers of water
• jala-āsāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक) + āsāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (जलस्य आसाराः)

• meghaiḥ: by clouds
• meghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: megha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• pavana-sahitaiḥ: accompanied by wind
• pavana-sahitaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (कृदन्त; √sah सह्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (पवनेन सहिताः)

• kledita-vapuḥ: with body drenched
• kledita-vapuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kledita (कृदन्त; √klid क्लिद्) + vapuṣ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (क्लेदितं वपुः यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the irresistible supremacy of Pati (Śiva) over hostile forces: when Śiva’s triśūla pierces the heart, egoic opposition is rendered powerless—standing like a lifeless pillar—symbolizing the subjugation of adharma and the soul’s need to yield to divine sovereignty.

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

It emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s active grace and authority in the world: as Pramathapati he protects cosmic order. Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize that same Lord as the inner ruler who stills turbulence and pierces the ‘heart-knot’ of ignorance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steadiness (śānti) and surrender: meditate on Śiva as the inner triśūla that cuts the three impurities (āṇava, karma, māyā), while supporting practice with Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance of impermanence.