Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

शङ्खचूडस्य मायायुद्धं तथा माहेश्वरास्त्रप्रभावः | Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Māyā-Warfare and the Power of the Māheśvara Astra

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स्वबलं निहतं दृष्ट्वा मुख्यं बहुतरं ततः । तथा वीरान् प्राणसमान् चुकोपातीव दानवः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | svabalaṃ nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā mukhyaṃ bahutaraṃ tataḥ | tathā vīrān prāṇasamān cukopātīva dānavaḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra nói: Thấy quân mình—nhất là những tướng lĩnh và rất nhiều chiến sĩ ưu tú—bị giết, lại thấy các dũng sĩ thân thiết như chính sinh mạng mình cũng ngã xuống, tên Dānava bừng bừng nổi giận dữ dội.

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (Speaker/subject of ‘said’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम; कर्मधारयः ‘सनत् (नित्यः) कुमारः’

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्वबलम्: his own army/strength
• स्वबलम्: कर्म (Object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘स्वस्य बलम्’

• निहतम्: slain, destroyed
• निहतम्: विशेषण (of svabalam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि√हन् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) = slain

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) = having seen

• मुख्यम्: chief, principal
• मुख्यम्: कर्म (object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बलम् इति विशेषण (another object/apposition)

• बहुतरम्: greater, much more
• बहुतरम्: विशेषण (of mukhyam/balam)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुतर (प्रातिपदिक; बहु + तरप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘thereupon/then’ (sequence)

• तथा: thus, in that way
• तथा: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner ‘thus/so’

• वीरान्: heroes, warriors
• वीरान्: कर्म (Object; whom he regarded as...)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्राणसमान्: as dear as life
• प्राणसमान्: विशेषण (of vīrān)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण-सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘प्राणैः समाः’ = equal to life (as dear as life)

• चुकोप: became angry
• चुकोप: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कुप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (intensity)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रता-वाचक-अव्यय (intensifier adverb)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• दानवः: the Dānava (demon)
• दानवः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how krodha (wrath) arises from attachment and loss; in Shaiva understanding, such passions strengthen pāśa (bondage) and obscure discernment, accelerating adharma and downfall.

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

By contrast: the demon’s rage shows the fruit of ego-driven identification, while Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) trains the mind toward devotion and steadiness, reducing anger and aligning the seeker with Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and mindful restraint of anger—using mantra to cool the mind when agitation arises.