Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

ईशानेन समं शंभुर्युयुधे रणवित्तमः । शुंभश्शेषेण युयुधे कुंभश्चन्द्रेण दानवः

Transliteration

īśānena samaṃ śaṃbhuryuyudhe raṇavittamaḥ | śuṃbhaśśeṣeṇa yuyudhe kuṃbhaścandreṇa dānavaḥ

Translation

Śambhu, yang paling arif dalam ilmu peperangan, bertempur setara dengan Īśāna. Śuṃbha bertarung dengan Śeṣa, dan raksasa Kuṃbha pula bertempur dengan Candra, Sang Bulan.

Word by Word

• ईशानेन: with Īśāna
• ईशानेन: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• समम्: together/equally
• समम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• रणवित्तमः: the best in battle
• रणवित्तमः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण + वित्तम (प्रातिपदिक); वित्तम = वित्त + तम (तद्धित/प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रणस्य वित्तमः = best in battle)

• शुंभः: Śumbha
• शुंभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शेषेण: with Śeṣa
• शेषेण: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• कुंभः: Kumbha
• कुंभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चन्द्रेण: with Candra
• चन्द्रेण: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दानवः: the demon
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana
• Shesha
• Chandra
• Shumbha
• Kumbha

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the cosmic order where divine powers confront demonic forces; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it symbolizes Pati (Śiva) safeguarding dharma by restraining forces that intensify pāśa (bondage such as pride, violence, and delusion).

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

By showing Śambhu actively protecting the worlds, the verse supports Saguna Shiva devotion—worship of the Linga as the accessible form of the Supreme who intervenes with grace (anugraha) to restore balance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a calm, disciplined mind, invoking Śiva’s protective śakti to overcome inner ‘asuric’ tendencies; applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) can be done as a reminder of Śiva’s mastery over conflict and impermanence.