Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

देवदैत्यसामान्ययुद्धवर्णनम् — Description of the General Battle Between Devas and Daityas

Devanagari script

आनयंति च ये वीरास्स्वामिनं रणसंसदि । ते पापिनो महाक्लीबा विनश्यन्ति रणं गताः

Transliteration

ānayaṃti ca ye vīrāssvāminaṃ raṇasaṃsadi | te pāpino mahāklībā vinaśyanti raṇaṃ gatāḥ

Translation

凡在战阵之会中，将自己的主君推送并交付给敌者的武士——此等罪人卑劣怯懦，入战场唯有走向毁灭。

Word by Word

• आनयन्ति: they bring/lead
• आनयन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (Conjunction)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Relative pronoun nominative plural

• वीराः: heroes/warriors
• वीराः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• स्वामिनम्: the master/lord
• स्वामिनम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• रणसंसदि: in the war-assembly/battlefield council
• रणसंसदि: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण-संसद् (प्रातिपदिक; रण + संसद्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (रणस्य संसद्/सभा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; Locative singular

• ते: they/those
• ते: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• पापिनः: sinful
• पापिनः: कर्तृविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural; predicate adjective of ते

• महाक्लीबाः: great cowards/impotent wretches
• महाक्लीबाः: कर्तृविशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-क्लीब (प्रातिपदिक; महा + क्लीब)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् क्लीबः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural; predicate adjective of ते

• विनश्यन्ति: perish
• विनश्यन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• रणम्: battle
• रणम्: कर्म (कर्म/Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गताः: having gone
• गताः: कर्तृविशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; Nominative plural; ‘having gone’ (to battle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It condemns adharma—especially betrayal of one’s rightful lord—and teaches that such treachery destroys inner strength (dharma-bala) and leads to inevitable downfall, opposing the Shaiva ideal of steadfast devotion and righteous conduct.

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

In Shaiva understanding, Shiva as Pati (the true Lord) is the ultimate refuge; betraying one’s svāmin reflects a mind unfit for bhakti. Linga-worship trains loyalty, surrender, and integrity—qualities opposed to the betrayal described here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate steadfastness through daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa as a vow of dharma and devotion, strengthening resolve against fear and moral collapse.