Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

अध्याय १७ — देवपलायनं, विष्णोः प्रतियुद्धं, जलंधरक्रोधः

Devas’ Rout, Viṣṇu’s Counterattack, and Jalandhara’s Wrath

Devanagari script

स च्छिन्नधन्वा भगवान्केशवो लोकरक्ष कः । जलंधरस्य नाशाय चिक्षेप स्वगदां पराम्

Transliteration

sa cchinnadhanvā bhagavānkeśavo lokarakṣa kaḥ | jalaṃdharasya nāśāya cikṣepa svagadāṃ parām

Translation

Bấy giờ, Bhagavān Keśava, đấng hộ trì thế gian, dù cung đã bị chém gãy, vẫn phóng chùy tối thượng của mình nhằm diệt Jalandhara.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च्छिन्नधन्वा: whose bow was broken
• च्छिन्नधन्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: च्छिन्न + धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: छिन्नं धनुः यस्य (whose bow is broken)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• केशवः: Keśava
• केशवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• लोकरक्षकः: protector of the world
• लोकरक्षकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: लोकस्य रक्षकः (protector of the world)

• जलंधरस्य: of Jalandhara
• जलंधरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलंधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• नाशाय: for destruction
• नाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• चिक्षेप: threw/cast
• चिक्षेप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन

• स्वगदाम्: his own mace
• स्वगदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: स्वस्य गदा (his own mace)

• पराम्: mighty/supreme
• पराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of गदाम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Keśava)
• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

It shows dharma being upheld: even a world-protecting deity like Vishnu acts to restrain adharma. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such victories ultimately serve Shiva’s cosmic governance (Pati), curbing ego and restoring order.

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

Though Vishnu is acting here, the Yuddha-khaṇḍa narrative functions within Shiva Purana’s Shaiva frame: worldly protection and divine battles are expressions of Saguna divinity operating under Shiva’s supreme lordship, guiding devotees back to devotion and righteous living.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dharma-sankalpa with japa: chant the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to subdue inner Jalandhara-like pride, and reinforce it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of self-restraint and surrender.