Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

एकतस्तन्मुखं दृष्ट्वा शंकरोप्याजगाम ह । स्वत्रिशूलं समादाय सुक्रुद्धो युद्धकाम्यया

Transliteration

ekatastanmukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṃkaropyājagāma ha | svatriśūlaṃ samādāya sukruddho yuddhakāmyayā

Translation

ସେଇ ମୁହଁକୁ ଏକ ପାର୍ଶ୍ୱରେ ଦେଖି ଶଙ୍କର ମଧ୍ୟ ଆଗେଇଲେ। ନିଜ ତ୍ରିଶୂଳ ଧରି, ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କ୍ରୋଧିତ ହୋଇ, ଯୁଦ୍ଧେଚ୍ଛାରେ ଆଗକୁ ବଢ଼ିଲେ।

Word by Word

• एकतः: on one side
• एकतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ekatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place: on one side)

• तत्-मुखम्: his/that face
• तत्-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तस्य मुखम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having seen)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• आजगाम: came/approached
• आजगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ह: indeed (particle)
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पदपूरण/स्मरणार्थक (expletive particle)

• स्व-त्रिशूलम्: his own trident
• स्व-त्रिशूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + triśūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वं त्रिशूलम् = his own trident)

• समादाय: having taken up
• समादाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having taken up)

• सु-क्रुद्धः: very angry
• सु-क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + kruddha (प्रातिपदिक; √krudh कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु + क्रुद्धः = very angry)

• युद्ध-काम्यया: with desire for battle
• युद्ध-काम्यया: Hetu (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + kāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (युद्धस्य काम्या = desire for battle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śaṅkara)
• Trishula (Triśūla)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Saguna Śiva acting as the supreme protector: His “wrath” is not ordinary anger but a divine force that removes adharma and safeguards devotees, reaffirming Pati’s lordship in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Śiva’s transcendent reality, this scene highlights the same Lord in a manifest, personal form (Saguna Śiva) wielding the Triśūla—helping devotees relate to Śiva as both the formless Absolute and the compassionate protector within sacred history.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as Triśūla-dhārī (bearer of the trident) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner courage and the resolve to cut the threefold bonds (pāśa) that obstruct liberation.