Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

प्रभुर्गदां च तत्क्षिप्तां सहसैव महेश्वरः । पाराशर्यं महालीलो द्रुतं बाणैर्द्विधाकरोत्

Transliteration

prabhurgadāṃ ca tatkṣiptāṃ sahasaiva maheśvaraḥ | pārāśaryaṃ mahālīlo drutaṃ bāṇairdvidhākarot

Translation

ତେବେ ମହାଲୀଳାରେ ରତ ପ୍ରଭୁ ମହେଶ୍ୱର ଛାଡ଼ାଯାଇଥିବା ସେଇ ଗଦାକୁ ଏବଂ ପାରାଶର୍ୟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ, ଦ୍ରୁତ ବାଣରେ କ୍ଷଣେ ଦ୍ୱିଧା କରିଦେଲେ।

Word by Word

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• तत्-क्षिप्ताम्: that (mace) which was thrown
• तत्-क्षिप्ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षिप्त (कृदन्त; √क्षिप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (that-thrown = thrown by him/that one)

• सहसा: suddenly/quickly
• सहसा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• पाराशर्यम्: Pārāśarya (name/epithet)
• पाराशर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाराशर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (proper name/epithet)

• महा-लीलः: of great play/power
• महा-लीलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती लीलाऽस्य)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-रूपेण)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: quickly)

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• अकरोत्: made/did
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara)
• Pārāśarya

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose power is effortless and whose actions are līlā (divine sport), indicating that worldly force cannot prevail against the Supreme, and that liberation lies in surrender to Him rather than in egoic might.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—active, protective, and sovereign—whose manifest power devotees approach through Linga worship; the Linga signifies the same Supreme who can act decisively in the world while remaining transcendently free.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humility and surrender, remembering Śiva as the ultimate refuge when confronted by fear, conflict, or inner agitation.