Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

शिवदूतेन युद्धनिश्चयः तथा देवदानवयुद्धारम्भः (Śiva’s Envoy and the Commencement of the Deva–Dānava War)

Devanagari script

गदर्ष्टिपट्टिशाश्चक्रभुशुंडिप्रासमुद्गराः । निस्त्रिंशभल्लपरिघाः शक्त्युन्मुखपरश्वधाः

Transliteration

gadarṣṭipaṭṭiśāścakrabhuśuṃḍiprāsamudgarāḥ | nistriṃśabhallaparighāḥ śaktyunmukhaparaśvadhāḥ

Translation

Sa labang iyon, winawasiwas sa lahat ng dako ang mga sandata: mga gada, pamalo, sibat, cakra, mga bhūśuṇḍī na punglo, mga prāsa at mga martilyo; gayundin ang mga espada, palaso, bakal na pamalo, mga śakti na sibat, at mga palakol na nakataas—lahat ay iwinawagayway sa digmaan.

Word by Word

• gadā-ṛṣṭi-paṭṭiśāḥ: maces, spears, and axes
• gadā-ṛṣṭi-paṭṭiśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭṭiśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (enumerative copulative)

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

• cakra-bhuśuṇḍi-prāsa-mudgarāḥ: discus-weapons, bhuśuṇḍis, javelins, and hammers
• cakra-bhuśuṇḍi-prāsa-mudgarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuśuṇḍi (प्रातिपदिक) + prāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + mudgara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list of weapons)

• nistriṃśa-bhalla-parighāḥ: swords, darts, and iron bars
• nistriṃśa-bhalla-parighāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nistriṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhalla (प्रातिपदिक) + parigha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• śakti-unmukha-paraśvadhāḥ: spears, (unmukha weapons), and battle-axes
• śakti-unmukha-paraśvadhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + unmukha (प्रातिपदिक) + paraśvadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (weapons list)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

Though it outwardly lists weapons, it also frames the cosmic struggle where Shiva’s order prevails over adharma—suggesting the inner spiritual battle in which the seeker cuts bondage (pāśa) and steadies devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

The Yuddhakhaṇḍa portrays Saguna Shiva’s governance of the cosmos through līlā; for devotees, such narratives reinforce trust in Shiva’s protective power, culminating in Linga-worship as the stable, nonviolent center behind all changing events.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to replace outer aggression with inner discipline: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and quiet meditation, ‘cutting’ anger and delusion like a sword, while maintaining purity through Shaiva practices such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and reverent worship.