Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

Devanagari script

ततस्त्रिशूलहेतिस्तमायांतं दैत्यपुंगवम् । विज्ञायावध्यमन्येन शूलेनाभिजघान तम्

Transliteration

tatastriśūlahetistamāyāṃtaṃ daityapuṃgavam | vijñāyāvadhyamanyena śūlenābhijaghāna tam

Translation

ତେବେ ତ୍ରିଶୂଳଧାରୀ ଆଗକୁ ଆସୁଥିବା ସେଇ ଦୈତ୍ୟଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠକୁ ଦେଖି, ଅନ୍ୟ ଉପାୟରେ ସେ ଅବଧ୍ୟ ବୋଲି ବୁଝି, ଅନ୍ୟ ତ୍ରିଶୂଳ-ଶସ୍ତ୍ରରେ ତାକୁ ଆଘାତ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रमवाचक)

• त्रिशूल-हेतिः: the trident-weapon (i.e., the trident-bearer/weapon)
• त्रिशूल-हेतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + हेति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिशूलरूपा हेति/weapon), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

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

• आयान्तम्: coming; approaching
• आयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + या (धातु) → आयान्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• दैत्य-पुंगवम्: the foremost of demons
• दैत्य-पुंगवम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दैत्येषु पुंगवः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• विज्ञाय: having realized
• विज्ञाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययभाव) = ‘having understood/known’

• अवध्यम्: unslayable; not killable
• अवध्यम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + वध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तम्’ (दैत्यपुंगवम्) प्रति विधेय-विशेषण: ‘not to be slain’

• अन्येन: with another
• अन्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणविशेषण

• शूलेन: with a spear/trident
• शूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण

• अभिजघान: struck; smote
• अभिजघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daitya (demon)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that adharma may appear “invulnerable” to ordinary efforts, but it is overcome by Shiva’s own śakti—symbolized by the trident—showing that liberation and protection ultimately arise from the Lord (Pati) rather than limited individual power.

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

As Saguna Shiva, the Lord takes up form and instruments (like the trident) to protect devotees and restore dharma. Linga-worship remembers this same Shiva as the supreme reality who becomes accessible through sacred form, while remaining beyond all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to invoke Shiva’s protective power through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and to cultivate inner steadiness—seeing the trident as mastery over the three guṇas—while offering one’s fear and ego into Shiva’s guardianship.