Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

पराङ्मुखो न हंतव्य इति वध्यौ न मे युवाम् । मम युद्धादतिक्रांतौ गौर्य्या वध्यौ भविष्यतः

Transliteration

parāṅmukho na haṃtavya iti vadhyau na me yuvām | mama yuddhādatikrāṃtau gauryyā vadhyau bhaviṣyataḥ

Translation

“背转而去者不应被击杀”——因此，你们二人不当由我所杀。但既然你们越犯了我的战斗之界，你们将成为应由高丽（Gaurī）诛灭之人。

Word by Word

• पराङ्मुखः: turned away, facing away
• पराङ्मुखः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (पराङ् = पराङ्-दिशि, ‘turned away’) विशेषणम् (युवाम्/योद्धा)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• हन्तव्यः: to be killed / killable
• हन्तव्यः: Vidhi (विधि/Obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/पुंलिङ्ग), प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (one who should be killed)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyopasamhara (वाक्योपसंहार/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक-निपात (quotative particle)

• वध्यौ: to be slain
• वध्यौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); विशेषणम् (युवाम्)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• मे: of me / my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• युद्धात्: from battle
• युद्धात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अतिक्रान्तौ: having transgressed/withdrawn
• अतिक्रान्तौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + √क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (युवाम्)

• गौर्य्या: by Gaurī
• गौर्य्या: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण/Agent expressed instrumentally)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वध्यौ: (you two) will be slain
• वध्यौ: Vidheya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (युवाम्)

• भविष्यतः: will be
• भविष्यतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s dharmic restraint: even in conflict, the Lord upholds right conduct. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, this shows Pati (Shiva) as perfectly just—punishment arises not from anger but from transgression of dharma, while compassion is shown to one who withdraws.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Shiva’s qualities—mercy, justice, and protection of dharma—qualities devotees contemplate while worshipping the Linga. Linga worship trains the mind to see Shiva as the righteous Lord who governs karma and grants grace when one turns away from wrongdoing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate restraint and surrender: meditate on Shiva’s steadiness by japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and maintain dharmic discipline (niyama). If observing Mahāśivarātri, pair mantra-japa with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of humility and self-control.