Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

अथातीव चुकोपोच्चैश्शंखचूडः प्रतापवान् । शक्त्या जघानोरसि तं स चकंपे पपात कौ

Transliteration

athātīva cukopoccaiśśaṃkhacūḍaḥ pratāpavān | śaktyā jaghānorasi taṃ sa cakaṃpe papāta kau

Translation

پھر جلال والا شنکھچوڑ سخت غضب سے بھڑک اٹھا؛ اس نے نیزہ نما شکتی سے اس کے سینے پر وار کیا، وہ سپاہی کانپ کر میدانِ جنگ میں گر پڑا۔

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक/सम्बन्धबोधक) 'then/now'

• atīva: exceedingly
• atīva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atīva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; intensifying adverb (अतिशयार्थक क्रियाविशेषण)

• cukopa: became angry
• cukopa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kup (कुप् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• uccaiḥ: loudly; greatly
• uccaiḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccais (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) 'loudly/highly'

• śaṃkhacūḍaḥ: Śaṅkhacūḍa
• śaṃkhacūḍaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkhacūḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper name

• pratāpavān: mighty
• pratāpavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of śaṃkhacūḍaḥ

• śaktyā: with a spear/śakti-weapon
• śaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd), Ekavacana

• jaghāna: struck; smote
• jaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (हन् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• urasi: on the chest
• urasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; adhikaraṇa-locative

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; refers to opponent (likely gaṇeśvara/vīrabhadra contextually)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• cakampē: trembled
• cakampē: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kamp (कम्प् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• papāta: fell
• papāta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• kau: which two?/who two? (unclear reading)
• kau: Anirdhārita (अनिर्धारित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ka (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvivacana (द्विवचन) form; likely Prathamā/Dvitīyā dual depending on context; text appears corrupt/uncertain (कौ)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkhacūḍa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how uncontrolled krodha (wrath) fuels adharma and destruction; in Shaiva thought, such agitation of the mind is a bondage (pāśa) that obstructs clarity, devotion, and liberation.

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

By contrast: the battlefield turbulence shows the fruit of ego and rage, while Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) trains the mind toward śānti, surrender, and purification—turning the same inner energy from violence into devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is krodha-śamana through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady breath, along with simple Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance to cultivate restraint and auspiciousness.