Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

ततश्शक्तिं कार्तिकेयो यावजग्राह रोषतः । तावन्निशुंभो वेगेन स्वशक्त्या तमपातयत्

Transliteration

tataśśaktiṃ kārtikeyo yāvajagrāha roṣataḥ | tāvanniśuṃbho vegena svaśaktyā tamapātayat

Translation

随后迦尔蒂凯耶怒而执起那神矛；然而就在此刻，尼舒姆婆疾如风，以自己的长矛将他击倒在地。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (thereupon/then)

• शक्तिम्: the spear/weapon (śakti)
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कार्तिकेयः: Kārtikeya
• कार्तिकेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिकेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यावत्: until/as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; यावत्-प्रयोग (as long as/until)

• अग्राह: seized
• अग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; (a) + ग्राह = ‘he seized’

• रोषतः: in anger
• रोषतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Ablatival adverb): रोषतः = ‘from anger/angrily’

• तावत्: just then/meanwhile
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तावत्-प्रयोग (meanwhile/just then)

• निशुम्भः: Niśumbha
• निशुम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वेगेन: with speed/force
• वेगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वशक्त्या: with his own śakti-weapon
• स्वशक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वा शक्ति = his own spear/power)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपातयत्: made (him) fall/struck down
• अपातयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense): ‘caused to fall’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya
• Niśumbha

FAQs

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

It shows that even divine heroes can face sudden reversals in battle, reminding devotees that power alone is not the highest refuge; in a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, true steadiness comes from alignment with dharma and reliance on the Lord’s grace (anugraha) beyond momentary victory or defeat.

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

The Yuddhakhaṇḍa frames conflicts as part of the Lord’s saguna governance of the worlds—where protection of dharma unfolds through His divine entourage. Worship of the Liṅga anchors the devotee in Pati (Śiva) as the supreme controller, while the deeds of Kārtikeya illustrate the Lord’s active, protective aspect in the manifest realm.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate inner composure in adversity by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steadying discipline (dhāraṇā). As a Śaiva practice, applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and wearing rudrākṣa can be undertaken as reminders of Śiva’s protection and the impermanence of external outcomes.