Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

जलंधरयुद्धे मायाप्रयोगः — Jalandhara’s Māyā in the Battle with Śiva

Devanagari script

ततो जलंधरो दृष्ट्वा रुद्र्मद्भुतविक्रमम् । चकार मायया गौरीं त्र्यम्बकं मोहयन्निव

Transliteration

tato jalaṃdharo dṛṣṭvā rudrmadbhutavikramam | cakāra māyayā gaurīṃ tryambakaṃ mohayanniva

Translation

Bấy giờ Jalandhara, thấy uy lực kỳ diệu của Rudra, liền dùng māyā tạo ra hình bóng của Gaurī, như thể muốn mê hoặc chính Tryambaka (Śiva).

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: then/thereupon)

• jalaṃdharaḥ: Jalandhara
• jalaṃdharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaṃdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• rudra-adbhuta-vikramam: Rudra’s wondrous prowess
• rudra-adbhuta-vikramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/समास (adbhuto vikramaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of dṛṣṭvā

• cakāra: made, created
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• māyayā: by magic/illusion
• māyayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• gaurīm: Gaurī (Pārvatī)
• gaurīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tryambakam: Tryambaka (Śiva)
• tryambakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tryambaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• mohayan: bewildering, deluding
• mohayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muh (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with jalaṃdharaḥ

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Jalandhara
• Rudra
• Gauri
• Tryambaka
• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that māyā can bewilder limited beings (paśu) but cannot truly bind Pati (Śiva); the demon’s illusion is a display of opposition, not a real limitation upon Rudra’s sovereign consciousness.

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

The episode contrasts deceptive forms created by māyā with the authentic, liberating presence of Śiva worshipped as the Liṅga and as Tryambaka; devotion to the true Lord cuts through appearances and steadies the mind in the real.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with discernment (viveka), remembering that passing mental images are māyā while Śiva is the unwavering refuge.