Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

यदि वः प्रधने श्रदा सारो वा क्षुल्लका हृदि । अग्रे तिष्ठत मात्रं मे न चेद्ग्राम्यसुखे स्पृहा

Transliteration

yadi vaḥ pradhane śradā sāro vā kṣullakā hṛdi | agre tiṣṭhata mātraṃ me na cedgrāmyasukhe spṛhā

Translation

如果你们对这场战斗有信心——如果你们心中还有哪怕一点点勇气或力量——那就站在我面前。否则，如果你们仍然渴望平庸的世俗享乐，就不要上前。

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle ‘if’)

• वः: of you / to you
• वः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/‘of you’ or ‘to you’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/4th; Genitive/Dative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रधने: in battle
• प्रधने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रदा: faith/resolve
• श्रदा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; ‘faith/courage exists’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक; Vedic/Prakritized form ‘श्रदा’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सारः: strength/essence
• सारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; ‘essence/strength exists’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• क्षुल्लका: small, paltry
• क्षुल्लका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुल्लक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘श्रदा’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हृदि: in (your) heart
• हृदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative circumstance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रे (अव्यय/सप्तमी-रूप)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in front/ahead’)

• तिष्ठत: stand
• तिष्ठत: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• मात्रम्: only, just
• मात्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative: ‘only/just’)

• मे: of me / to me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/‘of me’ or ‘to me’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/4th; Genitive/Dative), एकवचन (Singular)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (not)

• चेत्: if (not)
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (if; ‘otherwise if not’)

• ग्राम्य-सुखे: in/for rustic pleasures
• ग्राम्य-सुखे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location; object of desire)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: ‘ग्राम्यं सुखम्’

• स्पृहा: desire, longing
• स्पृहा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; ‘desire exists’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

A commander/leader addressing his warriors in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative (as narrated within Suta’s discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It contrasts śraddhā (spiritual conviction) and inner valor with attachment to grāmya-sukha (petty worldly comfort), teaching that steadfastness in dharma requires detachment and a disciplined heart.

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

In a Shaiva reading, standing “before me” mirrors approaching the Lord (Saguna Shiva) with śraddhā; one who clings to worldly cravings lacks the inner readiness that makes worship fruitful and transformative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate śraddhā and vairāgya through daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a brief self-audit before worship—renouncing grāmya-sukha impulses and reaffirming resolve to stand in dharma.