Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

विहाय संग्रामशिरोगुहां तां प्रविश्य शर्वं प्रणिपत्य मूर्ध्ना । प्रोवाच दुःखाभिहतः स्मरारिं सुवीरको वाग्ग्मिवरोऽथ वृत्तम्

Transliteration

vihāya saṃgrāmaśiroguhāṃ tāṃ praviśya śarvaṃ praṇipatya mūrdhnā | provāca duḥkhābhihataḥ smarāriṃ suvīrako vāggmivaro'tha vṛttam

Translation

สुवีรกะละทิ้งถ้ำที่ชื่อสังกรามศิระ แล้วเข้าไปเฝ้าศรวะ (พระศิวะ) ก้มศีรษะกราบนอบน้อม ด้วยความโศกเศร้า ผู้มีวาจาไพเราะนั้นจึงทูลสุมราริถึงเหตุการณ์ทั้งปวงตามที่เกิดขึ้นจริง

Word by Word

• vihāya: having abandoned
• vihāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-hā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावेन; धातु: हा (to abandon) उपसर्ग: वि

• saṃgrāma-śiro-guhām: the cave at the head/center of the battlefield
• saṃgrāma-śiro-guhām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃgrāma (प्रातिपदिक) + śiras (प्रातिपदिक) + guhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (saṃgrāmasya śiraḥ = battle’s head/leader) + तत्पुरुष (śiroguhā = head-cave/central cave)

• tām: that (her/it)
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावेन; धातु: विश् (to enter) उपसर्ग: प्र

• śarvam: Śarva (Śiva)
• śarvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (Śiva)

• praṇipatya: having bowed down
• praṇipatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ni-pat (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावेन; धातु: पत् (to fall) उपसर्ग: प्र + नि; अर्थ: प्रणामं कृत्वा

• mūrdhnā: with (his) head
• mūrdhnā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• provāca: said/spoke
• provāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: वच् (to speak) उपसर्ग: प्र

• duḥkha-abhihataḥ: afflicted by sorrow
• duḥkha-abhihataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + abhihata (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समास: तत्पुरुष (duḥkhena abhihataḥ = struck by sorrow)

• smara-arim: the enemy of Smara (Śiva)
• smara-arim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक) + ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (smarasya ariḥ = enemy of Smara/Kāma)

• suvīrakaḥ: Suvīraka
• suvīrakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vīraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• vāk-gmi-varaḥ: the best of the eloquent
• vāk-gmi-varaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + gmin (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; समास: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (vāc + gmin = eloquent) + तत्पुरुष (vāggmivaraḥ = best among the eloquent)

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/सम्बन्धसूचक (then/now)

• vṛttam: the event/occurrence
• vṛttam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; within the story Suvīraka speaks to Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sharva
• Smarari
• Kama
• Suvīraka

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): even amid conflict and grief, the devotee approaches Śiva with humility (bowing the head) and truthfully reports events, showing that grace and right guidance arise through surrender to Pati (the Lord).

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

The verse portrays direct devotion to Saguna Śiva—Śarva/Smarāri—through reverential prostration and personal address. This mirrors how devotees approach the Śiva-liṅga: with namaskāra, confession of distress, and seeking Śiva’s protective, compassionate response.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily praṇāma to Śiva (or the liṅga) before speaking or praying—mentally placing one’s burden at Śiva’s feet—optionally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind in sorrow.