Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 33

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

जलंधरशरव्रातैर्नीहारपटलैरिव । द्यावापृथिव्योराच्छन्नमंतरं समपद्यत

Transliteration

jalaṃdharaśaravrātairnīhārapaṭalairiva | dyāvāpṛthivyorācchannamaṃtaraṃ samapadyata

Translation

因阇兰达罗万箭齐发，宛如浓密雾幕层层铺展，天地之间的整个虚空尽被遮蔽，昏暗不明。

Word by Word

• jalaṃdhara-śara-vrātaiḥ: by multitudes of Jalaṃdhara’s arrows
• jalaṃdhara-śara-vrātaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaṃdhara (प्रातिपदिक) + śara (प्रातिपदिक) + vrāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of Jalaṃdhara’ + ‘arrows’ + ‘multitude’), Masculine, Instrumental Plural (तृतीया बहुवचन)

• nīhāra-paṭalaiḥ: by layers of mist
• nīhāra-paṭalaiḥ: Upamāna-karaṇa (उपमान-करण; instrument in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + paṭala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘fog’ + ‘layers’), Neuter, Instrumental Plural

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

• dyāvā-pṛthivyoḥ: of heaven and earth
• dyāvā-pṛthivyoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध; of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyu (प्रातिपदिक) + pṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘heaven and earth’), Dual stem in compound; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ācchannam: covered/veiled
• ācchannam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa / Bhāva (भाव; state)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ācchanna (कृदन्त; √chad with ā-)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; predicate adjective to antaraṃ

• antaram: the space/sky between
• antaram: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative Singular; subject of samapadyata (‘the space/interval’)

• samapadyata: became
• samapadyata: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pad (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; with prefix sam-ā-; ‘came to be/became’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: symbolic tirodhāna (concealment) via arrow-mist obscuring dyāvāpṛthivī-antarāla

Characters & Entities

• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

The verse portrays how asuric power can temporarily “veil” the world—like mist—symbolizing māyā and ego that obscure discernment; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such coverings are ultimately dispelled by Śiva’s grace and right knowledge.

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

When the cosmos seems obscured by turmoil, devotees take refuge in Saguna Śiva—worshipping the Liṅga as the stable axis of consciousness—remembering that Śiva alone removes coverings and restores clarity and order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance to counter inner ‘mist’ (distraction, fear), maintaining composure amid conflict.