Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas

Devanagari script

तयोर्महात्मनोस्तत्र द्वन्द्वयुद्धमभूत्तदा । सर्वेषां पश्यतामेव तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम्

Transliteration

tayormahātmanostatra dvandvayuddhamabhūttadā | sarveṣāṃ paśyatāmeva tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam

Translation

Тогда там разгорелся яростный поединок между двумя великими душами — бурная битва, от которой, даже при всеобщем зрелище, вставали дыбом волосы.

Word by Word

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन

• महात्मनोः: of the two great-souled ones
• महात्मनोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक adverb)

• द्वन्द्व-युद्धम्: a duel (two-person fight)
• द्वन्द्व-युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक) + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (द्वन्द्वरूपं युद्धम्)

• अभूत्: arose / happened
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक adverb)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• पश्यताम्: while (they) were watching
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present Active Participle/वर्तमानकृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘सर्वेषाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (of those who were watching)

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

• तुमुलम्: tumultuous
• तुमुलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुमुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘रोमहर्षणम्’ इति विशेषण

• रोम-हर्षणम्: hair-raising (thrilling) [event]
• रोम-हर्षणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोम (प्रातिपदिक) + हर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रोम्णां हर्षणम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

It portrays the overwhelming force of karmic and dharmic confrontation in the world, urging the devotee to cultivate steady awareness and devotion to Pati (Śiva) even amid tumult—transforming fear into awe and recollection of the Divine.

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

Such battle narratives highlight Saguna Śiva’s governed cosmos where dharma is protected; worship of the Liṅga trains the mind to remain centered in Śiva-consciousness while witnessing intense outer events, seeing them as movements within His order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize the mind when confronted by turmoil; applying bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and remembering Śiva as the inner Lord supports fearlessness and composure.