Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

इति श्रीशिवमहापुराणे द्वितीयायां रुद्रसंहितायां पञ्चमे युद्धखंडे गजासुरवधो नाम सप्तपंचाशत्तमोऽध्यायः

Transliteration

iti śrīśivamahāpurāṇe dvitīyāyāṃ rudrasaṃhitāyāṃ pañcame yuddhakhaṃḍe gajāsuravadho nāma saptapaṃcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീശിവമഹാപുരാണത്തിലെ ദ്വിതീയ റുദ്രസംഹിതയുടെ പഞ്ചമ യുദ്ധഖണ്ഡത്തിൽ ‘ഗജാസുരവധം’ എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള അമ്പത്തേഴാം അധ്യായം സമാപ്തമായി.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākya-sambandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (इति अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचक (quotative/closure particle)

• śrī-śiva-mahā-purāṇe: in the Śrī Śiva Mahāpurāṇa
• śrī-śiva-mahā-purāṇe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location—'in')
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + śiva + mahā + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (multi-member; determinative), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ग्रन्थ-निर्देश (text reference)

• dvitīyāyām: in the second
• dvitīyāyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīyā (द्वितीया प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal) qualifying saṃhitāyām (understood/next word)

• rudra-saṃhitāyām: in the Rudra-saṃhitā
• rudra-saṃhitāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra + saṃhitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (rudrasya saṃhitā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• pañcame: in the fifth
• pañcame: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcama (पञ्चम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक qualifying khaṇḍe

• yuddha-khaṇḍe: in the Yuddha-khaṇḍa (war section)
• yuddha-khaṇḍe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha + khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (yuddhasya khaṇḍaḥ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• gajā-sura-vadhaḥ: the slaying of Gajāsura
• gajā-sura-vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता—title as subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja + asura + vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (gajāsurasya vadhaḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अध्याय-नाम (chapter title)

• nāma: named
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Specifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, नाम-निर्देशक

• saptapaṃcāśattamaḥ: fifty-seventh
• saptapaṃcāśattamaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta + pañcāśat + tama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-समास/निर्माण (ordinal formation), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण of adhyāyaḥ

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gajāsura

FAQs

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

This is a colophon marking the completion of the chapter; spiritually it seals the teaching that Shiva’s victory over Gajāsura symbolizes the removal of tamas, pride, and obstructive power that bind the soul (paśu), reaffirming Shiva as Pati who grants liberation.

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

By concluding the “Gajāsuravadha” narrative within the Yuddha-khaṇḍa, it frames Shiva’s saguna līlā—His active protection of dharma—as a valid support for devotion, leading devotees toward steadiness in Linga-worship and remembrance of Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a chapter-end marker, it implicitly encourages śravaṇa (hearing) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of Shiva’s deeds; devotees may conclude recitation with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and offer bhasma/abhisheka in gratitude.