Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

देवाः वैकुण्ठगमनम् तथा विष्णोः अवतारस्तुतिः | Devas Go to Vaikuṇṭha and Praise Viṣṇu’s Avatāras

Devanagari script

भोभो शुंभनिशुंभौ च देवान्समरकातरान् । क्षणेन सुमहावीर्यौ तुच्छान्नाशयतं युवाम्

Transliteration

bhobho śuṃbhaniśuṃbhau ca devānsamarakātarān | kṣaṇena sumahāvīryau tucchānnāśayataṃ yuvām

Translation

“呵！呵！善婆与尼善婆啊——诸神在战场上已然胆怯。你二人具大威力，当于顷刻间灭尽这些微不足道者。”

Word by Word

• bho bho: hey! hey!
• bho bho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bho (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपातः (vocative particle), द्विवारम् (repeated interjection)

• śuṃbha-niśuṃbhau: O Śumbha and Niśumbha
• śuṃbha-niśuṃbhau: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक) + niśuṃbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः (Vocative), द्विवचनम्; द्वन्द्वः—शुम्भश्च निशुम्भश्च

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनम्

• samara-kātarān: frightened in battle
• samara-kātarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक) + kātara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—समरे कातराः (timid in battle)

• kṣaṇena: in a moment
• kṣaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचनम्; काल-करणे (in a moment/within a moment)

• su-mahā-vīryau: (you) two of very great prowess
• su-mahā-vīryau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—सुमहच्च तद्वीर्यं यस्य (very great in prowess)

• tucchān: insignificant (ones)
• tucchān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tuccha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘तुच्छ’ = तुच्छक/अल्प (insignificant)

• nāśayatam: destroy (you two)
• nāśayatam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (नश् धातु) + ṇic (णिच्)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), द्विवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; causative—‘नाशय’ = विनाशय (destroy!)

• yuvām: you two
• yuvām: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्त्योः (Nom/Acc), द्विवचनम्; यहाँ कर्तरि—‘you two’

Speaker

An asura leader/commander addressing Śumbha and Niśumbha (as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shumbha
• Nishumbha
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the asuric mindset—pride in strength and contempt for others. From a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, it warns that power without devotion and right knowledge (jñāna) is bound to adharma and ultimately collapses before Pati (Śiva) and the divine order.

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

In contrast to the boastful command to “destroy,” Linga worship trains the devotee in humility, restraint, and alignment with Śiva as the inner Lord (Saguna for worship, Nirguna in essence). The narrative context underscores that victory is not mere force but conformity to dharma under Śiva’s sovereignty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter arrogance with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and the application of Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence, cultivating fearlessness rooted in Śiva rather than in ego.