Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

खड्गरोमशिरः कायात्तथा परशुनाच्छिनत् । बलाहकस्य च शिरः खट्वांगेनाकरोद्द्विधा

Transliteration

khaḍgaromaśiraḥ kāyāttathā paraśunācchinat | balāhakasya ca śiraḥ khaṭvāṃgenākaroddvidhā

Translation

ପରଶୁଦ୍ୱାରା ସେ ଖଡ୍ଗରୋମର ଶିର ଦେହରୁ କାଟିଦେଲା; ଖଟ୍ୱାଙ୍ଗ ଦଣ୍ଡରେ ବଲାହକର ଶିର ଦୁଇ ଭାଗ କଲା। ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ଭୟଙ୍କର ବେଗରେ ଶତ୍ରୁମାନେ ନିହତ ହେଲେ, ପ୍ରଭୁପକ୍ଷର ଅପରାଜେୟ ବଳ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ହେଲା।

Word by Word

• खड्ग-रोम-शिरः: the head of Khaḍgaroma
• खड्ग-रोम-शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + रोम (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (खड्गस्य रोम्णः शिरः/खड्गरोम्णः शिरः)

• कायात्: from the body
• कायात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• परशुना: with an axe
• परशुना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अच्छिनत्: cut off
• अच्छिनत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• बलाहकस्य: of Balāhaka
• बलाहकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• खट्वाङ्गेन: with a khaṭvāṅga (club/staff)
• खट्वाङ्गेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खट्वाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अकरोत्: made
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• द्विधा: into two
• द्विधा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in two parts)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Khaḍgaroma
• Balāhaka

FAQs

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

It highlights the decisive destruction of adharmic forces in the cosmic order. In Shaiva understanding, outer battles mirror the inner cutting down of ignorance and ego when one takes refuge in Shiva (Pati), who ensures the victory of dharma.

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

Though the verse is martial, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion: the devotee remembers Shiva as the protector who empowers the righteous. Linga-worship internalizes this protection—offering mind and prana to Shiva so that inner enemies are ‘severed’ through grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the imagery as meditation: while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplate Shiva’s grace cutting off anger, pride, and delusion. Support this with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrāksha as reminders of restraint and surrender.