Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

राहोः शिरच्छेदन-कारणकथनम् / The Account of Rāhu’s Beheading

Cause and Background

Devanagari script

ततस्समभवद्युद्धं देवदानवसेनयोः । मुसलैः परिघैर्बाणैर्गदापरशुशक्तिभिः

Transliteration

tatassamabhavadyuddhaṃ devadānavasenayoḥ | musalaiḥ parighairbāṇairgadāparaśuśaktibhiḥ

Translation

随后，天神与大那婆的大军展开了激烈的战斗，双方动用了铁棒、箭镞、大锤、斧头和长矛。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (thereupon/then)

• सम्: together/fully (prefix)
• सम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग (preverb) — ‘अभवत्’ इत्यस्य सह

• अभवत्: arose/happened
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्तः—समभवत्

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता/भाववाच्य-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देव-दानव-सेनयोः: of the armies of gods and demons
• देव-दानव-सेनयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दानव (प्रातिपदिक) + सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (सेना), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देवानां दानवानां च सेनयोः)

• मुसलैः: with clubs
• मुसलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• परिघैः: with iron bars
• परिघैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• गदा-परशु-शक्तिभिः: with maces, axes, and spears
• गदा-परशु-शक्तिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + परशु (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (शक्ति), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (गदाश्च परशवश्च शक्तयश्च)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Dānavas

FAQs

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

The verse frames the Deva–Dānava conflict as an outward sign of the ongoing struggle between dharma and adharma; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such turmoil highlights the soul’s need for Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate refuge and regulator of cosmic order.

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

Though the verse is martial, the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context underscores that victory and protection are ultimately governed by Saguna Śiva’s grace; devotees turn to the Liṅga as the stable, worshipful form of Śiva amid the instability of conflict.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate inner steadiness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Śiva-upāsanā (e.g., Tripuṇḍra with bhasma), redirecting the ‘battle’ inward toward conquering anger, fear, and ego.