Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्यन्धकवचः श्रुत्वा दानवा मेघनिस्स्वनाः । प्रमथान् निर्दयाः प्राहुर्मर्तव्ये कृतनिश्चयाः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | ityandhakavacaḥ śrutvā dānavā meghanissvanāḥ | pramathān nirdayāḥ prāhurmartavye kṛtaniścayāḥ

Translation

سنتکمار نے کہا—اندھک کے یہ کلمات سن کر، بادلوں کی گرج جیسی آواز والے دانَووں نے بے رحمی سے پرمَتھوں سے کہا؛ وہ انہیں قتل کرنے کا پختہ ارادہ کر چکے تھے۔

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; perfect ‘said’

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, quotative particle

• अन्धक-वचः: Andhaka’s words
• अन्धक-वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of ‘hearing’

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; ‘having heard’

• दानवाः: demons
• दानवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; subject

• मेघ-निस्स्वनाः: thunderous like clouds
• मेघ-निस्स्वनाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + निस्स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjective of ‘demons’

• प्रमथान्: the Pramathas
• प्रमथान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; object of speaking/declaring

• निर्दयाः: merciless
• निर्दयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्दय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; adjective of ‘demons’

• प्राहुः: declared
• प्राहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; perfect ‘said/declared’

• मर्तव्ये: in the matter of killing (them)
• मर्तव्ये: Viṣaya-adhikaraṇa (विषयाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मर्तव्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √मृ + तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; locative of purpose/occasion ‘in the matter of killing/being killed’

• कृत-निश्चयाः: resolved, determined
• कृत-निश्चयाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘having made a decision’

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Andhaka
• Danavas
• Pramathas

FAQs

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

It highlights the asuric disposition—cruelty and fixed intent to harm—standing in contrast to Shaiva dharma, where alignment with Śiva (Pati) and his attendants (Pramathas) represents protection of cosmic order and the path away from bondage (pāśa).

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

The Pramathas are attendants of Saguna Śiva, the Lord who actively protects dharma. The verse frames the battlefield context where devotion to Śiva’s protective, personal aspect is remembered—Śiva as the guardian of his devotees and his divine retinue.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate fearlessness through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and remembrance of Śiva as protector; in Shaiva practice, this is often supported by wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as signs of refuge in Śiva.