Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

शक्त्या जघान तं चापि कार्तिकेयं महाबलम् । स पपात महीपृष्ठेऽमोघां कुर्वन्विधिप्रदाम्

Transliteration

śaktyā jaghāna taṃ cāpi kārtikeyaṃ mahābalam | sa papāta mahīpṛṣṭhe'moghāṃ kurvanvidhipradām

Translation

ସେ ଶକ୍ତିଦ୍ୱାରା ସେଇ ମହାବଳୀ କାର୍ତ୍ତିକେୟଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆଘାତ କଲା। କାର୍ତ୍ତିକେୟ ଭୂମିପୃଷ୍ଠରେ ପଡ଼ିଲେ, ତଥାପି ବିଧିର ବିଧାନ ଅମୋଘ ହେବାକୁ ସେ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• शक्त्या: with a spear/weapon (śakti)
• शक्त्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• जघान: struck/killed
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

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

• कार्तिकेयम्: Kārtikeya
• कार्तिकेयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; देवतानाम

• महाबलम्: mighty
• महाबलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय विशेषण

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पपात: fell
• पपात: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महीपृष्ठे: on the earth’s surface
• महीपृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महेः पृष्ठम्)

• अमोघाम्: unfailing
• अमोघाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कुर्वन्: doing/making
• कुर्वन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधिप्रदाम्: granting due ordinance/boon
• विधिप्रदाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधि + प्रदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विधेः प्रदा = giver of ordinance/boon) विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even exalted divine beings move within vidhi (cosmic ordinance). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, events unfold under the Lord’s governance, and true steadiness is to uphold dharma without letting one’s divine purpose become “amogha” (wasted).

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

Yuddhakhaṇḍa narratives emphasize Saguna Shiva’s ordered cosmos: battles, boons, and outcomes occur within Shiva’s sovereign law. Linga-worship trains the devotee to see the Lord as the inner ruler (Pati) who harmonizes destiny and effort.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and a resolve to accept outcomes as vidhi while acting righteously—so one’s sādhana becomes “amogha” (unfailing).