Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

सर्वे रुद्रगणाश्चापि जगर्जुर्जयशालिनः । नन्दिकार्तिकदंत्यास्यवीरभद्रादिका मुने

Transliteration

sarve rudragaṇāścāpi jagarjurjayaśālinaḥ | nandikārtikadaṃtyāsyavīrabhadrādikā mune

Translation

Segala Rudra-gaṇa, bersinar dengan keyakinan akan kemenangan, mengaum lantang—wahai resi—Nandin, Kārtika, Dantyāsya, Vīrabhadra, dan yang lain-lain.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• रुद्र-गणाः: hosts of Rudra (Rudra’s attendants)
• रुद्र-गणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• जगर्जुः: roared
• जगर्जुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• जय-शालिनः: abounding in victory / victorious
• जय-शालिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of रुद्रगणाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• नन्दि-कार्तिक-दन्त्यास्य-वीरभद्र-आदिकाः: Nandi, Karttika, Dantyāsya, Vīrabhadra and others
• नन्दि-कार्तिक-दन्त्यास्य-वीरभद्र-आदिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to रुद्रगणाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + दन्त्यास्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (collective listing) with आदिक (etc.)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudraganas
• Nandi
• Kartikeya
• Virabhadra
• Dantyasya

FAQs

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

It highlights the invincible śakti of Śiva’s sacred retinue (Rudra-gaṇas): when aligned with Pati (Śiva), the forces of dharma become fearless and victorious—symbolizing the soul’s triumph when it takes refuge in Śiva.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s living presence through His gaṇas and commanders like Nandin and Vīrabhadra; Linga-worship is devotion to that same Śiva, whose protective grace manifests through His divine attendants in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and courage, remembering Nandin and Vīrabhadra as symbols of steadfast service; this can be paired with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines.