Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

नारायणास्त्रं गांधर्वं ब्रह्मास्त्रं गारुडं तथा । पार्जन्यं च पाशुपतं जृंभणास्त्रं च पार्वतम्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇāstraṃ gāṃdharvaṃ brahmāstraṃ gāruḍaṃ tathā | pārjanyaṃ ca pāśupataṃ jṛṃbhaṇāstraṃ ca pārvatam

Translation

随后诸神兵齐发：那罗延神兵（Nārāyaṇa-astra）、乾闼婆神兵（Gāndharva-astra）、梵天神兵（Brahmā-astra）以及迦楼罗神兵（Gāruḍa-astra）；又有降雨神兵（Pārjanya-astra）、兽主神兵（Pāśupata-astra）、胀裂神兵（Jṛmbhaṇa-astra）与帕尔瓦塔神兵（Pārvatā-astra）。

Word by Word

• नारायणास्त्रम्: Nārāyaṇa-weapon
• नारायणास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नारायणस्य अस्त्रम्)

• गान्धर्वम्: Gāndharva (weapon)
• गान्धर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मास्त्रम्: Brahmā-weapon
• ब्रह्मास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः अस्त्रम्)

• गारुडम्: Gāruḍa (weapon)
• गारुडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (also/likewise)

• पार्जन्यम्: Pārjanya (weapon)
• पार्जन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्जन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• पाशुपतम्: Pāśupata (weapon)
• पाशुपतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाशुपत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जृंभणास्त्रम्: Jṛmbhaṇa-weapon
• जृंभणास्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जृंभण + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जृंभणस्य अस्त्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• पार्वतम्: Pārvat(a) (weapon)
• पार्वतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs mighty astras to show that all powers—whether associated with Nārāyaṇa, Brahmā, or other cosmic forces—ultimately operate within the Lord’s cosmic order; in Shaiva Siddhanta, the highest refuge is Paśupati (Śiva), the Lord of all beings and their bonds.

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

By naming the Pāśupata weapon, the text points to Śiva’s saguna sovereignty as Paśupati; Linga-worship centers the devotee on that same Lord whose manifested power governs and transcends all worldly force.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Rather than imitating external power, the takeaway is inner surrender: steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and wearing Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that Śiva’s grace—not aggression—is the true conqueror of bondage.