Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)

Devanagari script

दंभोलि शूलासिपरश्वधानामुद्दंडचक्रोपलकंपनानाम् । नंदीश्वरस्योपरि दानवेन्द्रा वर्षं ववर्षुर्जलदा इवोग्रम्

Transliteration

daṃbholi śūlāsiparaśvadhānāmuddaṃḍacakropalakaṃpanānām | naṃdīśvarasyopari dānavendrā varṣaṃ vavarṣurjaladā ivogram

Translation

वज्र, त्रिशूळ, तलवार, परशु, जड गदा, चक्र आणि शिळाखंडांनी रणभूमी हादरविणारी भयंकर शस्त्रवृष्टी दानवेंद्रांनी नंदीश्वरावर केली—जणू उग्र मेघांनी प्रचंड पाऊस पाडावा।

Word by Word

• दंभोलि: thunderbolt
• दंभोलि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभोलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे/नामरूपे (as name of weapon: thunderbolt)

• शूल: trident/spear
• शूल: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (as member in compound)

• असि: sword
• असि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (as member in compound)

• परश्वध: axe
• परश्वध: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परश्वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (as member in compound)

• उद्दण्ड: uplifted/brandished
• उद्दण्ड: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् (उपसर्ग) + दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as member in compound); विशेषण—‘raised/brandished’

• चक्र: discus
• चक्र: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as member in compound)

• उपल: stone
• उपल: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as member in compound)

• कम्पन: shaking/causing tremor
• कम्पन: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कम्पन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as member in compound)

• दंभोलि-शूल-असि-परश्वध-उद्दण्ड-चक्र-उपल-कम्पनानाम्: of thunderbolts, tridents, swords, axes, uplifted clubs, discs, stones, and (things) causing shaking
• दंभोलि-शूल-असि-परश्वध-उद्दण्ड-चक्र-उपल-कम्पनानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभोलि + शूल + असि + परश्वध + उद्दण्ड + चक्र + उपल + कम्पन (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतर-द्वन्द्वसमूहस्य षष्ठी—‘of (the shower) of thunderbolts etc.’

• नन्दीश्वरस्य: of Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; नन्दिनः ईश्वरः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (name: Nandīśvara)

• उपरि: upon/over
• उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वपद/उपपद; अधिकरणार्थे (locative sense: ‘upon/over’)

• दानवेन्द्राः: lords of the Dānavas (demon-kings)
• दानवेन्द्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानवेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; दानवानाम् इन्द्राः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• वर्षम्: a shower (rain)
• वर्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म—‘a shower/rain’

• ववर्षुः: they rained down
• ववर्षुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• जलदाः: clouds
• जलदाः: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; उपमानकर्तृ (as subject of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-marker (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• उग्रम्: fierce/terrible
• उग्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘वर्षम्’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Nandīśvara (Nandi)
• Dānava chiefs (Dānavendrāḥ)

FAQs

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

It portrays how forces opposed to dharma unleash overwhelming violence, yet the narrative centers on the unshakable stature of Shiva’s foremost attendant (Nandīśvara), implying that devotion to Pati (Shiva) remains inwardly firm even when the outer world “rains” obstacles.

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

Nandīśvara represents the ideal servant of Saguna Shiva—personal, accessible Lordship—showing that those aligned with Shiva’s presence and service are tested by adversity; Linga/Saguna worship is thus framed as a living relationship of loyalty, courage, and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a practical takeaway, maintain japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during turmoil and cultivate Nandi-like steadiness; if following Shaiva observance, support japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and a calm, unwavering posture.