Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

विदलोत्पलदैत्ययोरुत्पत्तिः देवपराजयः ब्रह्मोपदेशः नारदप्रेषणम्

Vidalotpala Daityas, Defeat of the Devas, Brahmā’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Mission

Devanagari script

कटाक्षिताथ देवेन दुर्गा दुर्गतिघातिनी । दैत्याविमामिति गणौ नेति सर्वस्वरूपिणा

Transliteration

kaṭākṣitātha devena durgā durgatighātinī | daityāvimāmiti gaṇau neti sarvasvarūpiṇā

Translation

تب بدبختی کو مٹانے والی دُرگا پر دیو نے کٹاکش کیا۔ گن بول اٹھے: “دَیتّیہ دب گئے!” مگر سَروَسوروپی پربھو نے فرمایا: “نہیں۔”

Word by Word

• कटाक्षिता: (she) was glanced at
• कटाक्षिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कटाक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having been glanced at'

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध—discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ (then/now)

• देवेन: by the god
• देवेन: Karta (कर्ता—agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• दुर्गा: Durgā
• दुर्गा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दुर्गतिघातिनी: destroyer of evil fate
• दुर्गतिघातिनी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गति + घातिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: दुर्गतिं घातयति इति/दुर्गतेः घातिनी (destroyer of misfortune)

• दैत्य: O Daitya / the demon
• दैत्य: Sambodhana/Pratipādya (सम्बोधन/प्रस्ताव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (contextually vocative/subject possible); here as addressed/mentioned before quotation

• अविमाम्: do not measure/assess (me)
• अविमाम्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: अवि-/वि-; अर्थः: 'do not measure/assess (me)' (text uncertain)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• गणौ: the two attendants (gaṇas)
• गणौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थ-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• सर्वस्वरूपिणा: by the all-formed one
• सर्वस्वरूपिणा: Karta/Karaṇa (कर्ता/करण—contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः: सर्वस्य स्वरूपं यस्य (all-formed/universal) — instrumental of agent/means

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages, with Śiva’s reply quoted)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Durga
• Ganas
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It highlights that Devī’s protective power operates under Śiva’s supreme, all-pervading lordship; apparent victory is not final until the Pati (Śiva) confirms the complete dissolution of the obstructing forces.

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

Durgā appears as a manifest (saguṇa) power, while Śiva as “sarva-svarūpa” points to the Reality behind all forms; Liṅga worship trains the devotee to see the formless Lord within and beyond every manifested divine action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to combine Devī–Śiva remembrance with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating discernment that inner obstacles may remain even when outer conditions seem resolved.