Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

सहस्रशः प्रविष्टास्ते पाताले च जिजीषवः । पलायमानास्ते सर्वे भग्नाशा दैन्यमागताः

Transliteration

sahasraśaḥ praviṣṭāste pātāle ca jijīṣavaḥ | palāyamānāste sarve bhagnāśā dainyamāgatāḥ

Translation

ହଜାରେ ହଜାରେ ସେମାନେ ପ୍ରାଣରକ୍ଷା ଇଚ୍ଛାରେ ପାତାଳକୁ ପ୍ରବେଶ କଲେ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଭୟରେ ପଳାଇ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଆଶା ଭଙ୍ଗ ହେଲା ଓ ସେମାନେ ଘୋର ଦୈନ୍ୟକୁ ପଡ଼ିଲେ।

Word by Word

• सहस्रशः: by thousands
• सहस्रशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्यय, वितरण/प्रकारवाचक (distributive adverb)

• प्रविष्टाः: entered
• प्रविष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘entered’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पाताले: in the netherworld
• पाताले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• जिजीषवः: desiring to win (or survive)
• जिजीषवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थक)
• Form: सन्नन्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘जिजीषु’ (desiderative adjective) = to wish to conquer/live; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पलायमानाः: fleeing
• पलायमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलाय (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• भग्नाशाः: whose hopes were shattered
• भग्नाशाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न (भञ्ज् धातु + क्त) + आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि समास: ‘भग्ना आशा येषाम्’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• दैन्यम्: wretchedness
• दैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आगताः: having reached/come to
• आगताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘having come/attained’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Pātāla

FAQs

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

It shows how adharma-driven power collapses when confronted by divine order—fear forces flight, and false confidence breaks. In Shaiva understanding, worldly “hope” rooted in ego and violence ends in dainya (misery), while true refuge is in Pati (Shiva) and dharma.

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

The verse underscores the limits of mere self-effort when separated from divine grace. Worship of the Liṅga (Saguna Shiva as the accessible form) is presented in the Purana as the stable refuge that dissolves fear and restores right orientation toward Shiva, the supreme protector.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is fear-removal through Shiva-oriented japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness, humility, and dharmic resolve.