Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

तथापि मुष्टिमुद्यम्य महाक्रुद्धो महासुरः । अभ्युद्ययौ महावेगाद्द्रुतं तं तज्जिघांसया

Transliteration

tathāpi muṣṭimudyamya mahākruddho mahāsuraḥ | abhyudyayau mahāvegāddrutaṃ taṃ tajjighāṃsayā

Translation

Namun demikian, Asura agung itu—marah meluap-luap—mengangkat genggaman tangannya dan meluru pantas ke arahnya dengan kelajuan dahsyat, berniat membunuhnya.

Word by Word

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• अपि: even/although
• अपि: Sambandha/Concession (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• मुष्टिम्: fist
• मुष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्यम्य: having raised
• उद्यम्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद्+यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — ‘having raised/lifted’

• महाक्रुद्धः: greatly enraged
• महाक्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् क्रुद्धः)

• महासुरः: the great demon
• महासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् असुरः)

• अभ्युद्ययौ: rushed forth/advanced
• अभ्युद्ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि+उद्+या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महावेगात्: from great speed/impetus
• महावेगात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् वेगः)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

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

• तत्: that (act)
• तत्: Karma/Prayojana (कर्म/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन-सूचक)

• जिघांसया: with the intent to kill
• जिघांसया: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: इच्छार्थक कृदन्त (Desiderative noun from जिघांस्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with the desire to kill’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Mahāsura (a great Asura)

FAQs

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

This verse portrays how krodha (wrath) and hiṃsā-bhāva (the urge to harm) propel the asuric nature into reckless action—symbolizing the Shaiva Siddhanta view that the paśu becomes bound by pāśa (impurities like anger) until grace and right discernment restore dharma.

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

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa setting, conflict highlights the need for refuge in Saguna Shiva—the compassionate Lord who protects devotees and subdues adharma; Linga-worship trains the mind to shift from reactive anger to steady remembrance of Shiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is anger-management through Shiva-smaraṇa and japa—especially the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—supported by sattvic disciplines like applying Tripuṇḍra bhasma and wearing Rudrākṣa to cultivate steadiness and restraint.