Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

कार्तिकेयलीलावर्णनम्

Narration of Kārttikeya’s Divine Play

Devanagari script

दशपद्ममिता वीरा राक्षसाः पूर्वमागताः । तद्वधार्थं द्रुतं नष्टा बभूवुस्तत्प्रहारतः

Transliteration

daśapadmamitā vīrā rākṣasāḥ pūrvamāgatāḥ | tadvadhārthaṃ drutaṃ naṣṭā babhūvustatprahārataḥ

Translation

先前，英勇的罗刹已至，数量达十“莲”（padma）。然而当他们急欲前来杀他时，却被他自身的击打迅速歼灭。

Word by Word

• daśa: ten
• daśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), indeclinable-like usage; qualifies padma

• padma: padma (a large number/measure)
• padma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, (in compound sense with mita) stem; here as measure-unit ‘padma’

• mitāḥ: measured/amounting to
• mitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mā (मा धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with rākṣasāḥ

• vīrāḥ: heroes/warriors
• vīrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; apposition to rākṣasāḥ

• rākṣasāḥ: demons
• rākṣasāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural

• pūrvam: formerly/beforehand
• pūrvam: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• āgatāḥ: having come/arrived
• āgatāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-gam (आ + गम् धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicative with rākṣasāḥ

• tat: of that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; in compound with vadha-artha

• vadha: killing
• vadha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, stem in compound; ‘killing’

• artham: for the purpose
• artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; purpose-accusative (प्रयोजनार्थे द्वितीया)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (शीघ्रार्थक)

• naṣṭāḥ: destroyed/perished
• naṣṭāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (नश् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Plural; predicative with (rākṣasāḥ) understood

• babhūvuḥ: became/were
• babhūvuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada

• tat: of that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th), Singular; in compound with prahāra

• prahārataḥ: from the blow/attack
• prahārataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prahāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; cause/source (हेतौ पञ्चमी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Rakshasas
• Kartikeya (implied target/warrior figure)

FAQs

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

It portrays the swift defeat of adharma: even vast demonic forces collapse when they confront divinely empowered dharma. In Shaiva understanding, Shiva’s grace (working through his divine agencies) neutralizes destructive tendencies and restores cosmic order.

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

Though the scene is martial, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s protective function—Shiva’s power manifests through his divine forms and allies to remove obstacles to dharma. Linga-worship remembers this same Pati (Lord) as the source of protection and victory over inner and outer negativity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) for protection and steadiness, accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines to subdue ‘rākṣasa-like’ impulses such as anger, violence, and pride.