Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath

Devanagari script

शंभुरुवाच । ब्रह्मन्देववरास्सर्वे भवदर्थे मया हतः । जलंधरो मदंशोपि सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

śaṃbhuruvāca | brahmandevavarāssarve bhavadarthe mayā hataḥ | jalaṃdharo madaṃśopi satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham

Translation

ศัมภูตรัสว่า “โอ้พราหมณ์ เพื่อประโยชน์ของพวกท่าน เราได้สังหารวีรชนทิพย์ทั้งปวงแล้ว แม้ชลันธระ—ผู้เป็นส่วนหนึ่งแห่งฤทธิ์เดชของเราเอง—(เราก็ทำลาย) นี่คือความจริง; ความจริงแท้เรากล่าว”

Word by Word

• śaṃbhuḥ: Śambhu
• śaṃbhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• brahman: O Brahman (Brahmā)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva-varāḥ: the best of the gods
• deva-varāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (श्रेष्ठा देवाः = excellent gods); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhavat-arthe: for your sake
• bhavat-arthe: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक; 2nd person honorific pronoun) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भवतः अर्थे = for your sake); Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• hataḥ: was slain
• hataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु) → hata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with jalaṃdharaḥ

• jalaṃdharaḥ: Jalaṃdhara
• jalaṃdharaḥ: Karma (कर्म) / passive subject
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaṃdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mad-aṃśaḥ: (who was) my portion/part
• mad-aṃśaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण; apposition to jalaṃdharaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक; genitive sense 'of me') + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मम अंशः = my portion); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• satyam: truly
• satyam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण)

• satyam: truly (indeed)
• satyam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति-निपातवत्; adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vadāmi: I say
• vadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक; pronoun)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Jalandhara-vadha is a pan-Purāṇic myth explaining the destruction of an asuric power that arose through boons; here Śiva emphasizes his protective destruction for the devas’ welfare.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s role as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who, out of grace, removes even formidable forces for the devotee’s welfare—affirming that divine intervention is guided by truth (satyam) and compassion, not ego.

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

Śambhu speaks as the personal Lord (Saguṇa Śiva) active in history and battle; yet his claim that Jalandhara was a portion of his own power points to Śiva’s transcendence—Linga-worship honors that one Reality who manifests and withdraws all powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steadfast truthfulness (satya) and surrender to Śiva’s protective grace; in worship, one may reinforce this through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a vow of satya and inner restraint.