Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

पुरा विधिप्रार्थनया युद्धमादौ हरेरपि । मधुकैटभयोर्देत्यवरयोः प्रलयार्णवे

Transliteration

purā vidhiprārthanayā yuddhamādau harerapi | madhukaiṭabhayordetyavarayoḥ pralayārṇave

Translation

在远古之初，因毗提（梵天）的祈请，连哈利（毗湿奴）也被引入战阵，于劫灭之海（普罗罗耶）中与两大魔首——摩度与凯塔婆——交战。

Word by Word

• purā: formerly
• purā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• vidhi-prārthanayā: by Brahmā’s request
• vidhi-prārthanayā: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + prārthanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘vidheḥ prārthanayā’

• yuddham: battle
• yuddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as event-noun (topic/object)

• ādau: in the beginning
• ādau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे क्रियाविशेषणवत् (at the beginning)

• hareḥ: of Hari (Vishnu)
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• madhu-kaiṭabhayoḥ: of Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• madhu-kaiṭabhayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + kaiṭabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व ‘madhuś ca kaiṭabhaś ca’

• daitya-varayoḥ: of the two best demons
• daitya-varayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन; कर्मधारय ‘श्रेष्ठौ दैत्यौ’

• pralaya-arṇave: in the ocean of dissolution
• pralaya-arṇave: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘pralayasya arṇavaḥ’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: mahāpralaya / pralaya-ocean setting (pralayārṇava)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Madhu
• Kaitabha

FAQs

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

It frames pralaya as a cosmic condition where even divine functions (creation and preservation) face obstruction, implying that the Supreme Lord (Pati—Śiva) alone transcends dissolution and restores order when the cosmos is re-manifested.

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

By showing that even Hari acts within cosmic cycles, the verse supports the Shaiva Purana’s emphasis that Saguna worship of Śiva—often through the Liṅga—anchors the devotee in the Reality that is not limited by pralaya and re-creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate pralaya and impermanence, then take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on the Liṅga as the timeless support beyond changing cosmic states.