Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

तारक-कुमार-युद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Tāraka and Kumāra

Devanagari script

तथा तं पतितं दृष्ट्वा तारकं बलवत्तरम् । न जघान पुनर्वीरस्स गत्वा व्यसुमाहवे

Transliteration

tathā taṃ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā tārakaṃ balavattaram | na jaghāna punarvīrassa gatvā vyasumāhave

Translation

ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ବଳବାନ ତାରକକୁ ଏହିପରି ପତିତ ହେବାର ଦେଖି, ସେହି ବୀର ତାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ପୁନର୍ବାର ପ୍ରହାର କଲେ ନାହିଁ; ବରଂ ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଯାଇ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାଣହୀନ କରିଦେଲେ ।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus / then
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb: ‘thus/then’)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: विशेषण (to ‘तम्’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• तारकम्: Tāraka
• तारकम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• बलवत्तरम्: stronger / very strong
• बलवत्तरम्: विशेषण (to ‘तारकम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनात्मक-प्रत्यय (Comparative: -तर), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Negation particle)

• जघान: struck / killed
• जघान: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb: again)

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• व्यसुम्: lifeless
• व्यसुम्: विशेषण (to implied object/condition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + असु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); ‘विगत-असु’ इत्यर्थे (lifeless)

• आहवे: in battle
• आहवे: अधिकरण (अधिकरणम्/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya (Kumāra/Skanda)
• Tārakāsura

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma-yuddha: the divine hero acts with restraint and purpose, ending adharma decisively rather than striking in anger—symbolizing the removal of bondage (pāśa) that obstructs the soul’s alignment with Shiva (Pati).

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

Kumāra’s victory is presented as the unfolding of Saguna Shiva’s grace in history—Shiva’s protective power operates through His divine agency to restore order, encouraging devotees to take refuge in Shiva’s manifested compassion and governance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined devotion: chant the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steadiness and restraint, cultivating inner victory over destructive impulses—mirroring the verse’s emphasis on purposeful, dharmic action.