Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

गजासुरतपः–देवलोकक्षोभः

Gajāsura’s Austerities and the Disturbance of the Worlds

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्महेन्द्रस्य गृहे महाबलो महामना निर्जितलोक एकराट् । रेमेऽभिवंद्यांघ्रियुगः सुरादिभिः प्रतापितैरूर्जितचंडशासनः

Transliteration

tasminmahendrasya gṛhe mahābalo mahāmanā nirjitaloka ekarāṭ | reme'bhivaṃdyāṃghriyugaḥ surādibhiḥ pratāpitairūrjitacaṃḍaśāsanaḥ

Translation

Tại cung điện của Mahendra (Indra), vị quân vương đại lực, đại tâm—đấng đã khuất phục các cõi như bậc độc tôn—an trú trong hưởng lạc và an nhàn. Đôi chân ngài được chư thiên và muôn loài khác kính lễ, vì họ đã bị uy lực ngài làm cho khiếp phục; và quyền lệnh mạnh mẽ, nghiêm khắc của ngài khiến họ phải quy phục.

Word by Word

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• mahendrasya: of Mahendra (Indra)
• mahendrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• gṛhe: in the house/palace
• gṛhe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• mahā-balaḥ: mighty
• mahā-balaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: कर्मधारय ‘महान् बलः यस्य’ (as adjective)

• mahā-manāḥ: great-souled
• mahā-manāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; irregular stem manas → manāḥ; ‘great-minded’

• nirjita-lokaḥ: conqueror of worlds
• nirjita-lokaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir-√ji (धातु) → nirjita (कृदन्त) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारयवत्) ‘निर्जिताः लोकाः येन’

• eka-rāṭ: sole king
• eka-rāṭ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + rājan/rāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: कर्मधारय ‘एकः राट्’ (sole monarch)

• reme: enjoyed/rejoiced
• reme: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ram (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्/Liṭ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada; ‘rejoiced/enjoyed’

• abhivaṃdya-aṅghri-yugaḥ: whose feet are worthy of salutation
• abhivaṃdya-aṅghri-yugaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√vand (धातु) → abhivaṃdya (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/gerundive) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: बहुव्रीहि ‘अभिवन्द्यं अङ्घ्रियुगं यस्य’ (whose pair of feet is worthy of reverence)

• sura-ādibhiḥ: by the gods and others
• sura-ādibhiḥ: Kartṛ-karaṇa (कर्ता-करण/agent in instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समास: तत्पुरुष ‘सुराः आदयः येषां ते’ (gods and others)

• pratāpitaḥ: tormented
• pratāpitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√tap (धातु) → pratāpita (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ktá), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; here in sense ‘made to suffer/tormented’ qualifying ‘sura-ādibhiḥ’ (instrumental agent phrase)

• ūrjita-caṇḍa-śāsanaḥ: of powerful, fierce शासन (rule)
• ūrjita-caṇḍa-śāsanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrjita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + caṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + śāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समास: बहुव्रीहि ‘ऊर्जितं चण्डं शासनं यस्य’ (whose fierce rule is strengthened)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Mahendra)
• Devas (Surāḥ)

FAQs

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

It highlights the peak of worldly power—being honored even by the Devas—yet implies that such dominance is temporal; Shaiva thought places lasting refuge in devotion to Pati (Śiva), not in ekarāṭ-style sovereignty.

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

By portraying Devas bowing at a ruler’s feet, the text implicitly contrasts worldly reverence with the highest worship directed to Saguna Śiva in the Liṅga, where surrender is offered for purification and grace rather than fear of authority.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to redirect the impulse of “bowing” toward Śiva: daily Liṅga-pūjā with the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders that true lordship is Śiva’s and liberation is His grace.