Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

कबंधानां सहस्रं च सन्ननर्त रणे बहु । महान् कोलाहलो जातः क्लीबानां च भयंकरः

Transliteration

kabaṃdhānāṃ sahasraṃ ca sannanarta raṇe bahu | mahān kolāhalo jātaḥ klībānāṃ ca bhayaṃkaraḥ

Translation

ในสนามรบ กบัณฑะนับพัน (ลำตัวไร้ศีรษะ) โซเซและร่ายรำไปนานาประการ เกิดเสียงอื้ออึงใหญ่หลวง—น่าสะพรึงสำหรับผู้ขลาดและใจอ่อน

Word by Word

• कबन्धानाम्: of headless trunks
• कबन्धानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; परिमाणार्थ (measure)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• सन्ननर्त: he danced; reeled about
• सन्ननर्त: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘he danced/reeled’

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बहु: much; greatly
• बहु: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (adverbial use of adjective)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• कोलाहलः: uproar; tumult
• कोलाहलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोलाहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• जातः: arose; happened
• जातः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘arisen/occurred’

• क्लीबानाम्: of the impotent/cowards
• क्लीबानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्लीब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• भयंकरः: terrifying
• भयंकरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (कोलाहलस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

FAQs

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

The verse uses battlefield terror to highlight how worldly upheaval shakes those without inner refuge; in Shaiva Siddhanta, steadiness arises by taking shelter in Pati (Shiva) rather than being ruled by fear (a pasha/bond).

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

The chaos of the battle contrasts with the Linga as the stable center of Saguna worship—devotees return the mind to Shiva’s steadfast presence, cultivating fearlessness and clarity amid external disturbance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady the mind when fear arises; pairing it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance supports detachment and courage.