Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

तारकवाक्य-शक्रविष्णुवीरभद्रयुद्धवर्णनम् — Account of Tāraka’s declarations and the battle involving Śakra (Indra), Viṣṇu, and Vīrabhadra

Devanagari script

पतितोऽपि समुत्थाय शक्त्या तं प्राहरद्रुषा । पुरंदरं गजस्थं हि पातयामास भूतले

Transliteration

patito'pi samutthāya śaktyā taṃ prāharadruṣā | puraṃdaraṃ gajasthaṃ hi pātayāmāsa bhūtale

Translation

گر پڑنے کے باوجود وہ پھر اٹھ کھڑا ہوا اور غصّے میں نیزے (شکتی) سے اس پر وار کیا۔ ہاتھی پر بیٹھے پورندر (اِندر) کو اس نے زمین پر گرا دیا۔

Word by Word

• पतितः: having fallen
• पतितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; पत् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘fallen’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-निपात (even/also)

• समुत्थाय: having risen
• समुत्थाय: Kriyā (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having risen up’

• शक्त्या: with a spear (śakti)
• शक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्राहरत्: struck/attacked
• प्राहरत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• रुषा: with anger
• रुषा: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुष्/रुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक (with anger)

• पुरंदरम्: Purandara (Indra)
• पुरंदरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरंदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गजस्थम्: mounted on an elephant
• गजस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गजस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) [गज + स्थ]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘पुरंदरम्’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed)

• पातयामास: caused to fall / felled
• पातयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) [णिच् causative + periphrastic perfect]
• Form: लिट् (Periphrastic Perfect/परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच् (causative) अर्थ: ‘caused to fall’

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Battle narration within the Kumārakhaṇḍa: Śiva’s śakti (power) manifests through Vīrabhadra to subdue Indra, illustrating the devas’ limited sovereignty under Śiva.

Significance: Cultivates vairāgya toward deva-power and confidence in Śiva as supreme refuge; reinforces that pride (ahaṅkāra) leads to downfall.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Purandara)

FAQs

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

It highlights steadfast effort and dharmic courage—rising even after a fall—showing how Shiva’s cosmic order is upheld through disciplined valor that subdues pride and restores balance.

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

The episode reflects Saguna Shiva’s governance of the cosmos: the Lord’s will manifests through divine agencies and warriors, reminding devotees that Linga-worship is devotion to the supreme Pati who regulates even the devas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a takeaway, cultivate steadiness after setbacks by daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined worship (archana), transforming anger into focused, dharmic resolve rather than ego-driven reaction.