Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

शिवदूतगमनानन्तरं शङ्खचूडस्य तुलसीसम्भाषणं युद्धप्रस्थान-तत्परता च / After Śiva’s Messenger Departs: Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Counsel with Tulasī and Readiness for War

Devanagari script

पञ्चाशदसुराणां हि निर्गच्छंतु कुलानि वै । कोटिवीर्याणि युद्धार्थं शम्भुना देवपक्षिणा

Transliteration

pañcāśadasurāṇāṃ hi nirgacchaṃtu kulāni vai | koṭivīryāṇi yuddhārthaṃ śambhunā devapakṣiṇā

Translation

诚然，令五十族阿修罗之诸族出征——具千万之力——为战而来，对抗立于天众一方的商婆（Śambhu）。

Word by Word

• pañcāśat: fifty
• pañcāśat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañcāśat (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), Indeclinable-like numeral stem used with genitive plural; qualifying asurāṇām

• asurāṇām: of the asuras
• asurāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/indeed

• nirgacchantu: let (them) go out
• nirgacchantu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir√gam (धातु; गम्)
• Form: Imperative/Ājñārtha (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद); upasarga: nir-

• kulāni: clans/families
• kulāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vai: indeed/assuredly
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/assurance

• koṭi-vīryāṇi: of crore-like/multitudinous strength
• koṭi-vīryāṇi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + vīrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying kulāni

• yuddha-artham: for battle
• yuddha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) compound used adverbially; Accusative singular form functioning as purpose (प्रयोजन)

• śambhunā: by Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhunā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु; by/through)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva-pakṣiṇā: who is on the gods' side
• deva-pakṣiṇā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with śambhunā

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the mobilization of asuric power against Śambhu, symbolizing how egoic and destructive tendencies can gather immense force, yet dharma ultimately stands with Shiva—the Pati (Lord) who protects cosmic order and guides beings toward liberation.

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

Śambhu is invoked here as the manifest, Saguna Lord who actively protects the devas. Linga-worship similarly approaches Shiva as the accessible divine presence who receives devotion and removes hostile forces—outer or inner—through grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to subdue the inner “asuras” of anger, pride, and delusion.