Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

तारक-कुमार-युद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Tāraka and Kumāra

Devanagari script

हते तस्मिन्महादैत्ये तारकाख्ये महाबले । क्षयं प्रणीता बहवोऽसुरा देवगणैस्तदा

Transliteration

hate tasminmahādaitye tārakākhye mahābale | kṣayaṃ praṇītā bahavo'surā devagaṇaistadā

Translation

మహాబలుడైన తారకనామ మహాదైత్యుడు హతుడైనప్పుడు, అప్పుడు దేవగణాలు అనేక అసురులను కూడా వినాశానికి నెట్టివేశాయి।

Word by Word

• हते: when slain
• हते: अधिकरण (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध/Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle) सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-प्रयोगः; ‘when (he) was slain’ (locative absolute)

• तस्मिन्: in that (one)
• तस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Locative absolute support)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• महादैत्ये: in the great demon
• महादैत्ये: अधिकरण (Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् दैत्यः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तारकाख्ये: named Tāraka
• तारकाख्ये: विशेषण (to ‘महादैत्ये’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तारक-आख्य = named Tāraka), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• महाबले: very powerful
• महाबले: विशेषण (to ‘महादैत्ये’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् बलः यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षयम्: destruction
• क्षयम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रणीता: were led / brought
• प्रणीता: क्रियाविशेष-सम्बन्ध (with implied ‘असुराः’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: विशेषण (to ‘असुराः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• असुराः: demons
• असुराः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Karta) / कर्म (passive sense: those brought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• देवगणैः: by the hosts of gods
• देवगणैः: करण (Instrument/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानां गणः), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तदा: then
• तदा: काल (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb of time: then)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Tārakāsura
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays the inevitable collapse of adharma: when the principal force of egoic opposition (the powerful asura) is removed, allied negative tendencies also dissolve—signaling dharma’s restoration under Shiva’s cosmic governance.

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

The narrative reflects Saguna Shiva’s protective order: through Shiva’s will, divine forces prevail. Linga-worship trains the devotee to surrender the ‘asuric’ impulses (pride, violence, delusion) into Shiva, the Pati, who dissolves bondage and re-establishes harmony.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) remembrance: offer inner ‘asuras’ (anger, arrogance) into Shiva’s presence, seeking clarity and restraint.