Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

देवानां च गणानां च तदासीत्समरो महान् । तीक्ष्णतोमरनाराचैर्युयुधुस्ते परस्परम्

Transliteration

devānāṃ ca gaṇānāṃ ca tadāsītsamaro mahān | tīkṣṇatomaranārācairyuyudhuste parasparam

Translation

تب دیوتاؤں اور شِو کے گنوں کے درمیان ایک عظیم جنگ برپا ہوئی۔ تیز نیزوں اور لوہے کے تیروں سے وہ روبرو ایک دوسرے سے لڑنے لگے۔

Word by Word

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• समरः: battle
• समरः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: विशेषण (adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) समरस्य

• तीक्ष्ण: sharp
• तीक्ष्ण: विशेषण (within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीक्ष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; समासपूर्वपद (as prior member)

• तोमर: javelin
• तोमर: समासाङ्ग (compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग-प्रातिपदिक; समासपूर्वपद (as member)

• नाराचैः: with sharp javelins and arrows
• नाराचैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाराच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः: तीक्ष्ण-तोमर-नाराच (weapons)

• युयुधुः: fought
• युयुधुः: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• परस्परम्: mutually
• परस्परम्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial to verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic conflict motif: devas vs gaṇas as a dramatic outward sign of inner bondage and divine governance

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Ganas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts the clash between divine powers and Śiva’s attendants, reminding that even celestial forces can be drawn into conflict when dharma is challenged; in Śaiva understanding, ultimate refuge lies in Pati (Śiva), who transcends such turmoil and restores right order.

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

The Gaṇas represent Saguna Śiva’s active protection of devotees and dharma; worship of the Śiva-liṅga centers the mind on the Lord who stands beyond oppositions, bringing inner steadiness when outer ‘battles’ arise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the verse as a prompt for japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking calm amid conflict; applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and remembering Śiva as the inner ruler supports restraint and clarity rather than reactive struggle.