Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

अथ कोलाहलं श्रुत्वा गणानां चन्द्रशेखरः । निजपार्श्वस्थितान् वीरानपृच्छद्गणसत्तमान्

Transliteration

atha kolāhalaṃ śrutvā gaṇānāṃ candraśekharaḥ | nijapārśvasthitān vīrānapṛcchadgaṇasattamān

Translation

尔时，月冠者（主湿婆）听闻众伽那所起喧哗，便询问侍立在他身旁的诸位英勇而最上之伽那。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (sequence/then)

• कोलाहलम्: uproar
• कोलाहलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोलाहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया (having heard)

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• चन्द्रशेखरः: Candraśekhara (Śiva)
• चन्द्रशेखरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र-शेखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चन्द्रस्य शेखरः)

• निजपार्श्वस्थितान्: standing at his side
• निजपार्श्वस्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज-पार्श्व-स्थित (प्रातिपदिक; स्थित = √स्था धातु; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; समास: (निजस्य पार्श्वे स्थिताः) — सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-भाव

• वीरान्: heroes/warriors
• वीरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• अपृच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• गणसत्तमान्: the best of the gaṇas
• गणसत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गणानां सत्तमाः = best among the gaṇas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the events; Śiva speaks within the narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Chandrashekhara

FAQs

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

It shows the Saguna Lord (Śiva as Candraśekhara) as the conscious, compassionate ruler of His Gaṇas—responding to disorder with awareness and inquiry, modeling dharmic restraint and clarity even amid conflict.

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

Candraśekhara here is the personally accessible Saguna form of Śiva—protector and guide. Linga-worship trains the devotee to perceive that same Lord as the inner sovereign who restores order in the mind, just as He addresses the tumult among the Gaṇas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mindful japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) when inner ‘kolāhala’ arises, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of Śiva’s steadiness—turning agitation into inquiry and composure.