Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

एभिर्मंत्रैर्महावीरौ चक्रतुर्युद्धमद्भुतम् । अन्योन्यं साधकौ भूत्वा महाबलपराक्रमौ

Transliteration

ebhirmaṃtrairmahāvīrau cakraturyuddhamadbhutam | anyonyaṃ sādhakau bhūtvā mahābalaparākramau

Translation

ଏହି ମନ୍ତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସମର୍ଥ ହୋଇ ସେ ଦୁଇ ମହାବୀର ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କଲେ। ପରସ୍ପରଙ୍କ ବିରୋଧରେ ନିଜ-ନିଜ ମନ୍ତ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧି ସାଧୁଥିବା ସାଧକ ପରି ହୋଇ, ସେମାନେ ମହାବଳ ଓ ପରାକ୍ରମ ପ୍ରକାଶ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• एभिः: by/with these
• एभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• महावीरौ: the two great heroes
• महावीरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावीर (प्रातिपदिक: महा + वीर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• चक्रतुः: they two did/made
• चक्रतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (युद्धम्)

• अन्योन्यम्: mutually/each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, परस्परार्थक (reciprocal adverb)

• साधकौ: the two practitioners/adepts
• साधकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), द्विवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having become’

• महाबलपराक्रमौ: of great strength and valor
• महाबलपराक्रमौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबलपराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक: महा + बल + पराक्रम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (साधकौ/महावीरौ); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बलस्य पराक्रमः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Kumārakhaṇḍa battle narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It highlights mantra-śakti as disciplined spiritual power: true heroism is not mere physical force but mastery of sacred sound through sādhana, aligned with dharma and ultimately subordinate to Shiva’s grace.

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

Mantras are a primary means to approach Saguna Shiva—through japa, worship becomes effective and inwardly transformative. The verse implies that sacred sound, when properly accomplished, channels divine presence and order, which Linga-worship ritualizes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa with steadiness (abhyāsa) and purity of intent—especially Shaiva japa such as the Pañcākṣarī—supported by simple disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and focused meditation on Shiva as the inner Lord (Pati).