Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

महावृषभमारूढस्सर्वथा रुद्रसंनिभः । आसुर्य्या मायया व्यास स बभूव जलंधरः

Transliteration

mahāvṛṣabhamārūḍhassarvathā rudrasaṃnibhaḥ | āsuryyā māyayā vyāsa sa babhūva jalaṃdharaḥ

Translation

噢，毗耶娑，他骑乘大公牛，处处酷似鲁陀罗；凭借阿修罗的幻力（māyā），他便化作阇兰达罗。

Word by Word

• महावृषभमारूढः: mounted on the great bull
• महावृषभमारूढः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महावृषभ + आरूढ (प्रातिपदिक; आरूढ < √रुह् (धातु))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘आरूढ’ = mounted; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महावृषभस्य आरूढः)

• सर्वथा: in every way / entirely
• सर्वथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• रुद्रसंनिभः: resembling Rudra
• रुद्रसंनिभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र + संनिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (रुद्र-संनिभः = रुद्रसदृशः)

• आसुर्या: by demonic
• आसुर्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मायया: by illusion
• मायया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• व्यास: O Vyāsa
• व्यास: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जलंधरः: Jalandhara
• जलंधरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जलंधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Vyasa
• Jalandhara

FAQs

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

It highlights that asuric māyā can imitate even divine appearances; discernment and devotion to the true Pati (Śiva) protect the seeker from mistaking illusion for ultimate reality.

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

Saguna forms can be imitated in the world of appearances, but the Liṅga signifies Śiva beyond deceptive likeness—calling the devotee to worship the true Lord rather than external imitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and steady dhyāna on Śiva helps cultivate viveka (discernment) against māyā.