Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

जलंधरयुद्धे मायाप्रयोगः — Jalandhara’s Māyā in the Battle with Śiva

Devanagari script

ततो रुद्रो महालीलो ज्ञानतत्त्वः क्षणात्प्रभुः । रौद्ररूपधरो जातो ज्वालामालातिभीषणः

Transliteration

tato rudro mahālīlo jñānatattvaḥ kṣaṇātprabhuḥ | raudrarūpadharo jāto jvālāmālātibhīṣaṇaḥ

Translation

于是，鲁陀罗——大圣戏（līlā）之主、灵性智慧之本体——刹那间显现为忿怒之相，周身如佩火焰花鬘，炽烈可怖。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of sequence/time

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-līlaḥ: of great play (mighty in sport)
• mahā-līlaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + līla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय): mahā (great) + līla (sport/play); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying rudraḥ

• jñāna-tattvaḥ: whose essence is knowledge / knowledge-principle
• jñāna-tattvaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna + tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (genitive relation): jñānasya tattvam; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying rudraḥ

• kṣaṇāt: in an instant
• kṣaṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); time-from (कालापादान)

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to rudraḥ

• raudra-rūpa-dharaḥ: bearing a fierce form
• raudra-rūpa-dharaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raudra + rūpa + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): raudraṃ rūpaṃ dharati iti; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying rudraḥ

• jātaḥ: became / was born
• jātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Kta (क्त) past participle (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively with rudraḥ

• jvālā-mālā-ati-bhīṣaṇaḥ: exceedingly terrifying with a garland of flames
• jvālā-mālā-ati-bhīṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jvālā + mālā + ati + bhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): jvālā-mālāyā ati-bhīṣaṇaḥ (exceedingly terrible with a garland of flames); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन) qualifying rudraḥ

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-imagery (flame-garlanded raudra manifestation)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

The verse presents Rudra as jñāna-tattva—the liberating principle of knowledge—who can instantly assume a fierce, protective form. In Shaiva Siddhānta, this shows Pati (Śiva) revealing saguna power to remove obstacles and uphold dharma while remaining the source of saving knowledge.

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

Though the Linga signifies the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, devotees also worship Śiva as saguna—manifest with form and power. Rudra’s raudra manifestation here supports saguna worship: the same supreme reality becomes perceptible and approachable for protection, grace, and the restoration of cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Rudra as the indwelling jñāna that burns ignorance like flame, while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). As a practical Shaiva takeaway, worship with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa can be adopted to steady devotion and remembrance of Rudra’s protective presence.