Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

अन्धकादिदैत्ययुद्धे वीरकविजयः — Vīraka’s Victory over Andhaka’s Forces

Devanagari script

याक्षेश्वरी तीक्ष्णमुखा विरूपा नखायुधा नागभयंकरी च । एतास्तथान्याश्शतशो हि देव्यः सुनिर्गताः संकुलयुद्धभूमिम्

Transliteration

yākṣeśvarī tīkṣṇamukhā virūpā nakhāyudhā nāgabhayaṃkarī ca | etāstathānyāśśataśo hi devyaḥ sunirgatāḥ saṃkulayuddhabhūmim

Translation

யாக்ஷேஸ்வரி, தீக்ஷ்ணமுகா, விரூபா, நகாயுதா, நாகபயங்கரி—மேலும் இவ்வாறான நூற்றுக்கணக்கான தேவியரும்—நெருக்கடியான போர்க்களத்திற்குள் பெருக்கெடுத்து வந்தனர்.

Word by Word

• याक्षेश्वरी: mistress of the Yakṣas
• याक्षेश्वरी: कर्ता (Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष+ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यक्षाणाम् ईश्वरी)

• तीक्ष्णमुखा: sharp-faced
• तीक्ष्णमुखा: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण+मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (तीक्ष्णं मुखं यस्याः)

• विरूपा: hideous
• विरूपा: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नखायुधा: having claws as weapons
• नखायुधा: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नख+आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (नखाः आयुधं यस्याः)

• नागभयंकरी: causing fear to serpents
• नागभयंकरी: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाग+भय+कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (नागानां भयम् करोति)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• एताः: these (women)
• एताः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• अन्याः: others
• अन्याः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• शतशः: by hundreds
• शतशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाणार्थक-अव्ययम् (distributive adverb: ‘by hundreds’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (emphatic/causal particle)

• देव्यः: goddesses
• देव्यः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• सुनिर्गताः: came forth well/fully
• सुनिर्गताः: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु+निर्+गम् (धातु) → निर्गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle)

• संकुलयुद्धभूमिम्: the crowded battlefield
• संकुलयुद्धभूमिम्: कर्म (Goal/object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकुल+युद्ध+भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (संकुला या युद्धभूमिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devis (Shakti goddesses)

FAQs

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

It portrays the dynamic power (Śakti) of the Shaiva tradition: when adharma swells, divine energies manifest in many forms to restore order. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this highlights that the Lord’s grace operates through His powers, protecting devotees and re-establishing dharma.

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

The many named goddesses represent Saguna expressions of Shiva’s operative power. Linga-worship centers on Shiva as the supreme Pati, while this verse shows His accessible, active presence through Śakti—fierce yet protective—within the world’s struggles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s protection through regular japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and devotional remembrance of Shiva-Śakti, especially during fear or conflict; this aligns the mind with grace and steadiness.