Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 63

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

पुरा चैव श्रुतं युद्धमिदानीं बहुधा पुनः । दृश्यते न श्रुतं दृष्टमीदृशं तु कदाचन

Transliteration

purā caiva śrutaṃ yuddhamidānīṃ bahudhā punaḥ | dṛśyate na śrutaṃ dṛṣṭamīdṛśaṃ tu kadācana

Translation

“ପୂର୍ବେ ଆମେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧର କଥା ଶୁଣିଥିଲୁ, ଏବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ନାନା ପ୍ରକାରେ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ଶୁଣୁଛୁ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଦେଖା କିମ୍ବା ଶୁଣା—କେଉଁଠି ମଧ୍ୟ ଏପରି ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କେବେ ହୋଇନାହିଁ।”

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, in the past
• पुरा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense: time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; ‘heard’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• युद्धम्: battle, war
• युद्धम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• इदानीम्: now
• इदानीम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative sense: time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इदानीम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• बहुधा: in many ways, repeatedly
• बहुधा: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), पुनरुक्त्यर्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: again)

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: ‘is seen’)

• न: not
• न: निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निषेधार्थक निपात (negation particle)

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; ‘heard’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• दृष्टम्: seen
• दृष्टम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; ‘seen’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Kridanta), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• ईदृशम्: such, of this kind
• ईदृशम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• तु: but, however
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (adversative/emphatic particle)

• कदाचन: ever, at any time
• कदाचन: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालवाचक/अनिश्चितकालवाचक (indefinite time adverb: ever/at any time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the extraordinary battle episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

FAQs

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

It highlights the uniqueness of a divinely-ordained conflict—implying that ordinary worldly wars cannot be compared to events that unfold under the governance of Pati (Shiva), where the deeper purpose is restoration of dharma and spiritual awakening rather than mere victory.

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

By stressing that such an event is beyond normal experience, the verse points the devotee toward Saguna Shiva’s sovereignty over cosmic events; worship of the Linga becomes a way to anchor the mind in the Lord who transcends and yet directs all visible and audible phenomena.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as the inner ruler (Pati) behind all change and conflict, and steady the mind with japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a practical means to move from fascination with spectacle to devotion and inner detachment.