Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 27

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

तानप्राप्तान्महादेवो जलंधरशरान्द्रुतम् । निजैर्हि निशितैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद प्रहसन्निव

Transliteration

tānaprāptānmahādevo jalaṃdharaśarāndrutam | nijairhi niśitairbāṇaiściccheda prahasanniva

Translation

جب جلندھر کے تیر تیزی سے آ پہنچے تو مہادیو نے اپنے ہی تیز دھار تیروں سے انہیں فوراً کاٹ ڈالا—گویا مسکرا رہے ہوں۔

Word by Word

• तान्: those (arrows)
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural) — सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अप्राप्तान्: not yet reaching (him)
• अप्राप्तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त) with negation अ-
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural) — क्त (PPP) used adjectivally; ‘not yet reached (him)’ qualifies तान्

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) — ‘महान् देवः’

• जलंधर-शरान्: Jalandhara’s arrows
• जलंधर-शरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object) — apposition to तान्
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलंधर (प्रातिपदिक) + शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural) — षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘जलंधरस्य शराः’

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-विशेषण) / द्रु (धातु) → द्रुत (ppp) used adverbially
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative) — ‘quickly’

• निजैः: with his own
• निजैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural) — qualifies बाणैः

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis/causal nuance

• निशितैः: sharp
• निशितैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) (नि-शि/शा धातु) → निशित
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural) — qualifies बाणैः

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चिच्छेद: cut asunder
• चिच्छेद: क्रिया (Kriyā/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• प्रहसन्: laughing
• प्रहसन्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-हस् (धातु) → प्रहसत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) — शतृ (present active participle), agrees with महादेवः

• इव: as if
• इव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle account to the sages, as is typical in Rudrasaṃhitā narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord—whose mastery is effortless: even in conflict he remains inwardly serene, indicating that divine consciousness is untouched by the turbulence of the world.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s protective, personal presence—worshipped in the Liṅga as the living Lord who guards devotees and upholds dharma, while remaining inwardly transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady breath and a calm smile—cultivating Śiva-like composure amid life’s ‘incoming arrows’ (stress, anger, fear).