Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा सैन्यं भज्यमानमंधकेन बलीयसा । स्कंदो विनायको नंदी सोमनंद्यादयः परे

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā sainyaṃ bhajyamānamaṃdhakena balīyasā | skaṃdo vināyako naṃdī somanaṃdyādayaḥ pare

Translation

బలవంతుడైన అంధకుడు సైన్యాన్ని చీల్చి చెదరగొడుతుండగా చూచి, స్కందుడు, వినాయకుడు (గణేశుడు), నందీ మరియు సోమనందీ మొదలైనవారు అతనిని ఎదుర్కొనుటకు ముందుకు సాగిరి।

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: दृश्, अर्थे: पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• भज्यमानम्: being routed/defeated
• भज्यमानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (Present Passive Participle/शानच्-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘भज्यमान’ = being broken/defeated

• अन्धकेन: by Andhaka
• अन्धकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• बलीयसा: stronger (one)
• बलीयसा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (Comparative) रूप: बलीयस् (stronger)

• स्कन्दः: Skanda
• स्कन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• विनायकः: Vinayaka (Gaṇeśa)
• विनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नन्दी: Nandin
• नन्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इकारान्त (i-stem)

• सोमनन्दी: Somanandin
• सोमनन्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम + नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative): ‘सोमस्य नन्दी’

• आदयः: and others
• आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = and others (etc.)

• परे: others
• परे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (others)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Skanda (Kartikeya)
• Vinayaka (Ganesha)
• Nandi
• Somanandi

FAQs

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

It shows adharma’s temporary force being checked by Shiva’s divine order: when the righteous host falters, Shiva’s foremost attendants—Skanda, Vinayaka, and Nandi—move to restore dharma, reflecting Pati’s protective grace over the pashus (souls) through his śakti and gaṇas.

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

Skanda, Gaṇeśa, and Nandī function as Saguna Shiva’s manifested powers and attendants; honoring them is part of approaching the Lord in form, ultimately leading the devotee toward the Linga as the central symbol of Shiva’s presence and sovereignty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Invoke Shiva’s protection by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and, where customary, wearing rudrākṣa and applying tripuṇḍra bhasma—reminding the mind to stand with dharma when inner ‘Andhaka’ (darkness) overwhelms.