Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

ततो जलंधरो दैत्यो रुद्रं मत्वा बलाधिकम् । ससर्ज मायां गांधर्वीमद्भुतां रुद्रमोहिनीम्

Transliteration

tato jalaṃdharo daityo rudraṃ matvā balādhikam | sasarja māyāṃ gāṃdharvīmadbhutāṃ rudramohinīm

Translation

แล้วชลันธระอสูร ครั้นเห็นว่ารุทรทรงมีกำลังเหนือกว่า ก็สำแดงมายาแบบคันธรรพ์อันน่าอัศจรรย์ เป็นมนตร์ลวงเพื่อทำให้รุทรหลงมัว

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘then/from that’)

• जलंधरः: Jalandhara
• जलंधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलंधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दैत्यः: the demon (Daitya)
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन् (धातु; ‘to think/consider’)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — ‘having considered’

• बल-अधिकम्: superior in strength
• बल-अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (बलेन अधिकः) विशेषणम् (रुद्रम्)

• ससर्ज: created/emitted
• ससर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मायाम्: illusion/magic
• मायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गान्धर्वीम्: Gandharva-like/celestial-musical
• गान्धर्वीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गान्धर्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (मायाम्)

• अद्भुताम्: wonderful/marvelous
• अद्भुताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (मायाम्)

• रुद्र-मोहिनीम्: the enchantress that deludes Rudra
• रुद्र-मोहिनीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रुद्रं मोहयति इति/रुद्रस्य मोहिनी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

It highlights the contrast between demonic reliance on māyā (deceptive power) and Rudra’s transcendence: in Shaiva Siddhanta, Pati (Shiva) is the lord of māyā, while beings bound by pasha attempt to manipulate perception but cannot ultimately bind the Supreme.

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

The verse underscores why devotees take refuge in Saguna Shiva (Rudra) and the Linga as stable supports for devotion: when worldly appearances become confusing, the Linga signifies the unwavering presence of Shiva beyond all illusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” with steady bhakti to pierce māyā, supported by Shaiva disciplines like applying Tripundra (bhasma) and wearing rudraksha as reminders of Rudra-tattva.