Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

एका विद्युत्स्वरूपा च बहुहस्तसमन्विता । भयंकरा महादेवी दुष्टदंडविधायिनी

Transliteration

ekā vidyutsvarūpā ca bahuhastasamanvitā | bhayaṃkarā mahādevī duṣṭadaṃḍavidhāyinī

Translation

Она была одна, но сияла, как молния, и имела множество рук. Грозная обликом, та Великая Богиня была вершительницей кары для нечестивых.

Word by Word

• एका: one (of them)
• एका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विद्युत्स्वरूपा: having the form of lightning
• विद्युत्स्वरूपा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विद्युतः स्वरूपम्/whose form is lightning), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘एका’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

• बहुहस्तसमन्विता: endowed with many hands
• बहुहस्तसमन्विता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + हस्त + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; √अन्वि + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बहवः हस्ताः येन समन्वितः/possessed of many hands), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भयंकरा: terrifying
• भयंकरा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘महादेवी’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• महादेवी: the great Goddess
• महादेवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महती देवी/great goddess), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुष्टदण्डविधायिनी: inflicter of punishment on the wicked
• दुष्टदण्डविधायिनी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट + दण्ड + विधायिन् (प्रातिपदिक; √धा + णिनि/इनि)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दुष्टानां दण्डं विधत्ते/one who inflicts punishment on the wicked), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (agent noun)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Śakti as the dynamic power of Śiva: compassionate to devotees yet fearsome to adharma, showing that divine grace also appears as righteous discipline that removes evil and restores dharma.

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

In Śaiva understanding, the Liṅga signifies Śiva’s transcendent reality, while this form of Mahādevī expresses the same divine presence as manifest power (saguṇa). Worship integrates both: the stillness of Śiva and the active protection of Śakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the lightning-radiance (tejas) of the Goddess as Śiva’s power while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner fearlessness and resolve to abandon wicked tendencies.