Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

युयुधेऽथ हरिस्तेन महाबलपराक्रमः । महादेव्यायुधो वीरः प्रवणः शिवरूपकः

Transliteration

yuyudhe'tha haristena mahābalaparākramaḥ | mahādevyāyudho vīraḥ pravaṇaḥ śivarūpakaḥ

Translation

ครั้นแล้วพระหริผู้มีกำลังและเดชกล้าก็เข้ารบกับเขา วีรบุรุษนั้นถืออาวุธแห่งมหาเทวี มีรูปดุจพระศิวะ และน้อมใจภักดีต่อพระศิวะ

Word by Word

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yudh (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (indeclinable: then/now)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• तेन: with him/by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (masc/neut), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• महाबलपराक्रमः: of great strength and valor
• महाबलपराक्रमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• महादेवी-आयुधः: whose weapon was (given by) the Great Goddess
• महादेवी-आयुधः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahādevī (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रवणः: inclined/devoted
• प्रवणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवरूपकः: having the form/appearance of Śiva
• शिवरूपकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Mahadevi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even in cosmic conflict, true power is aligned with devotion and Shiva-bhāva (Śiva-like orientation). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it points to Pati (Śiva) as the supreme reality, while heroic might becomes spiritually meaningful when inclined (pravaṇa) toward Śiva.

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

By describing a warrior as śiva-rūpaka (bearing Śiva’s semblance), the text emphasizes Saguna engagement—recognizing Śiva’s presence through form, qualities, and divine signs. Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to perceive Śiva as the indwelling Lord beyond appearances, even amid dramatic narratives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate Shiva-bhāva through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before or after worship, and to maintain inner steadiness in conflict—offering one’s strength and actions to Śiva as Pati.