Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

त्रिशूलं पतितं हस्ताच्छिवस्य परमात्मनः । दृष्ट्वा सदूतिकस्तं वै पिनाकं धनुराददे

Transliteration

triśūlaṃ patitaṃ hastācchivasya paramātmanaḥ | dṛṣṭvā sadūtikastaṃ vai pinākaṃ dhanurādade

Translation

परमात्मा शिवाच्या हातातून त्रिशूल पडलेले पाहून, सदूतिकाने तेव्हा पिनाक धनुष्य उचलले।

Word by Word

• त्रिशूलम्: trident
• त्रिशूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: त्रि + शूल

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with त्रिशूलम्)

• हस्तात्: from (the) hand
• हस्तात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: परम + आत्मन्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having seen’

• स-दूतिकः: (he) with his attendant/messenger
• स-दूतिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूतिक (प्रातिपदिक) + स- (उपसर्ग/उपपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स + दूतिक (with a messenger/attendant)

• तम्: that (one) / him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• पिनाकम्: Pināka (Śiva’s bow)
• पिनाकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (वैकल्पिक-रूप: धनुः = धनुषम्)

• आददे: took up
• आददे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sadutika
• Pinaka

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva as Paramātman—unshaken in essence—while the play of battle unfolds in the manifested (saguṇa) realm; devotees learn that the Supreme remains transcendent even when divine līlā appears dynamic.

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

Calling Shiva “Paramātman” points to the nirguṇa truth, while the trident and Pināka belong to saguṇa worship—devotees approach the formless through tangible symbols, ultimately resting in Shiva’s supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as both weapon-bearing Lord and inner Paramātman while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), offering vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and cultivating steadiness amid changing outer events.