Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

अध्याय १७ — देवपलायनं, विष्णोः प्रतियुद्धं, जलंधरक्रोधः

Devas’ Rout, Viṣṇu’s Counterattack, and Jalandhara’s Wrath

Devanagari script

ततस्समभवद्युद्धं विष्णुदैत्येन्द्रयोर्महत् । आकाशं कुर्वतोर्बाणैस्तदा निरवकाशवत्

Transliteration

tatassamabhavadyuddhaṃ viṣṇudaityendrayormahat | ākāśaṃ kurvatorbāṇaistadā niravakāśavat

Translation

于是，毗湿奴与代底耶之王之间兴起一场宏大的战斗。二者箭雨齐发，充塞长空，仿佛天际再无一隙可容。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (thereupon/then)

• समभवत्: arose, happened
• समभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णुदैत्येन्द्रयोः: of Viṣṇu and the demon-king
• विष्णुदैत्येन्द्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-दैत्येन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक: विष्णु + दैत्येन्द्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (Genitive/Locative dual); द्वन्द्व-समासः (Viṣṇu and the demon-king)

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies ‘युद्धम्’)

• आकाशम्: the sky
• आकाशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुर्वतोः: of the two (while) making
• कुर्वतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present active participle), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘of the two who were making/doing’

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• निरवकाशवत्: as if without any space
• निरवकाशवत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरवकाशवत् (प्रातिपदिक: निरवकाश + वत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमानार्थक -वत् प्रत्यय (like ‘without space’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Daitya-king (Daityendra)

FAQs

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

It portrays the overwhelming force of conflict driven by opposing powers, reminding the seeker that even “great” battles fill the inner sky with agitation; Shaiva Siddhānta points beyond such turbulence toward refuge in Pati (Śiva), the only stable ground for peace and liberation.

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

The verse highlights the limits of power and weaponry; in the Shiva Purana’s devotional frame, turning to Saguna Śiva—symbolized by the Liṅga—centers the mind in a form that leads beyond fear and rivalry, toward the grace that resolves what force cannot.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As an antidote to the “sky filled with arrows” of restless thoughts, practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath, optionally wearing Rudrākṣa and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) to cultivate calm, protection, and devotion.