Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

देवर्षि-प्रश्नः तथा असुर-वध-हेतुनिवेदनम् | The Devas’ Petition and the Cause for Slaying Asuras

Devanagari script

केचिद्भविष्यंत्यसुरा मम वध्या महेश्वर । हरेर्वध्यास्तथा केचिद्भवंतश्चापि केचन

Transliteration

kecidbhaviṣyaṃtyasurā mama vadhyā maheśvara | harervadhyāstathā kecidbhavaṃtaścāpi kecana

Translation

Wahai Maheśvara, akan muncul beberapa asura yang ditakdirkan untuk dibunuh olehku; demikian juga, sebahagian akan dibunuh oleh Hari (Viṣṇu), dan sebahagian lagi, sesungguhnya, oleh-Mu juga.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite)

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• असुराः: demons
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• वध्याः: to be slain (by me)
• वध्याः: Vidhaya-visheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (to be slain)

• महेश्वर: O Maheśvara
• महेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• हरेः: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरेः: Shashthi-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• वध्याः: to be slain
• वध्याः: Vidhaya-visheshana (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘to be slain’ (by Hari)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भवन्तः: you (all)
• भवन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; आदरार्थ ‘you (honorific)’

• च: and
• च: Samucchaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• केचन: some (others)
• केचन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक

Speaker

Satī (speaking to Lord Śiva/Maheśvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Asuras

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that the protection of dharma is carried out through divine agency in different forms—Śiva, Hari, and the Goddess—showing coordinated cosmic governance under Pati (Śiva) where adharma is inevitably removed.

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

By addressing Śiva as Maheśvara and acknowledging his decisive role in dissolving adharma, the verse supports Saguna devotion—worshipping Śiva as the personal Lord (often through the Liṅga) who actively upholds cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) to Śiva with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady remembrance that the Lord removes inner ‘asuras’ (ego, anger, delusion) just as he removes outer adharma.