Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

गजं दत्त्वा महेन्द्राय कुमारो यानमारुहत् । अनेकाश्चर्यसंभूतं नानारत्नसमन्वितम्

Transliteration

gajaṃ dattvā mahendrāya kumāro yānamāruhat | anekāścaryasaṃbhūtaṃ nānāratnasamanvitam

Translation

ମହେନ୍ଦ୍ର (ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର)ଙ୍କୁ ଗଜ ଦାନ କରି କୁମାର ସେହି ଦିବ୍ୟ ରଥରେ ଆରୋହଣ କଲେ; ତାହା ଅନେକ ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ଗଢ଼ା ଓ ନାନାରତ୍ନରେ ସୁଶୋଭିତ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• गजम्: elephant
• गजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having given’

• महेन्द्राय: to Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्राय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् इन्द्रः)

• कुमारः: Kumāra
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• यानम्: vehicle
• यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आरुहत्: mounted/ascended
• आरुहत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अनेक: many
• अनेक: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘आश्चर्यसंभूतं’ इति विशेष्ये विशेषणम्

• आश्चर्यसंभूतम्: arisen from wonders / wondrously produced
• आश्चर्यसंभूतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आश्चर्य-संभूत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त) from सम्√भू; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (आश्चर्येण/आश्चर्यात् संभूतम्)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याय/विविधतावाचक अव्यय (various)

• रत्नसमन्वितम्: adorned with jewels
• रत्नसमन्वितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न-समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त) from सम्-अनु√इ (समन्वि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (रत्नैः समन्वितम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic conduct—Kumāra’s respectful offering to Indra and his orderly departure—showing that even divine power is guided by humility, right relationship, and disciplined action under Śiva’s cosmic order.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it reflects the Saguna framework of the Purāṇa: devas, boons, and celestial splendor function within Śiva’s sovereignty. Devotion to Śiva (often through Liṅga worship) is understood as the root that harmonizes and empowers all divine agencies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is offering (dāna) and disciplined remembrance: perform a simple act of charity and then recite the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with steadiness, dedicating the merit to Śiva as the inner ruler of all devas.