Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

जलंधरयुद्धे मायाप्रयोगः — Jalandhara’s Māyā in the Battle with Śiva

Devanagari script

निशुंभशुंभावपि यौ विख्यातौ वीरसत्तमौ । आपे तौ शेकतुर्नैव रणे स्थातुं मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

niśuṃbhaśuṃbhāvapi yau vikhyātau vīrasattamau | āpe tau śekaturnaiva raṇe sthātuṃ munīśvara

Translation

ହେ ମୁନୀଶ୍ୱର! ବୀରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ବୋଲି ବିଖ୍ୟାତ ନିଶୁମ୍ଭ ଓ ଶୁମ୍ଭ ମଧ୍ୟ ଭୟାକ୍ରାନ୍ତ ହେଲେ; ଯୁଦ୍ଧରେ ଠିଆ ରହିପାରିଲେ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• निशुम्भशुम्भौ: Niśumbha and Śumbha
• निशुम्भशुम्भौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक); समास: द्वन्द्व
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (two names)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-भाव-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• यौ: who (two)
• यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (relative pronoun)

• विख्यातौ: renowned
• विख्यातौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ख्यात (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: वि-उपसर्ग + क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• वीरसत्तमौ: best of heroes
• वीरसत्तमौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक); समास: वीर-सत्तम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; षष्ठी/निर्धारण-तत्पुरुष ("वीराणां सत्तमौ")

• आपे: attained/reached
• आपे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), द्विवचन

• शेकतुः: were able (the two)
• शेकतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन, परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• स्थातुम्: to stand
• स्थातुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Infinitive)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक); समास: मुनि-ईश्वर
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ("मुनीनां ईश्वर")

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Niśumbha
• Śumbha

FAQs

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

It highlights that worldly valor collapses when confronted by divine power; true steadiness arises from alignment with Pati (Śiva) through dharma and devotion, not mere heroic pride.

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

The verse contrasts human/daityic strength with the overwhelming presence of the Divine; worship of the Liṅga (Saguna focus leading to Nirguna realization) is presented in the Purāṇa as the means to gain inner fearlessness and stability.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate dhairya (steadfastness), supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Śiva’s protection.