Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

शिवदूतेन युद्धनिश्चयः तथा देवदानवयुद्धारम्भः (Śiva’s Envoy and the Commencement of the Deva–Dānava War)

Devanagari script

शिवस्स्वसैन्यं देवांश्च प्रेरयामास सत्वरः । स्वयमप्यखिलेशोपि सन्नद्धोभूच्च लीलया

Transliteration

śivassvasainyaṃ devāṃśca prerayāmāsa satvaraḥ | svayamapyakhileśopi sannaddhobhūcca līlayā

Translation

湿婆迅速激励自己的军旅与诸天；而他自身——虽为万有之主——亦以神圣戏游之意，全副武装。

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्वसैन्यम्: his own army
• स्वसैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: स्वं सैन्यम् (कर्मधारय)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रेरयामास: urged, set in motion
• प्रेरयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√ईर्/√इर् (प्रेरयति) (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect) periphrastic/आम-प्रयोग, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सत्वरः: hastening, quickly
• सत्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying Śiva)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वयम्-शब्दः अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• अखिलेशः: lord of all
• अखिलेशः: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समास: अखिलस्य ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• अपि: too
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle)

• सन्नद्धः: armed, prepared
• सन्नद्धः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सन् + नद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण; कृदन्त-निष्पन्न (armed/ready)

• अभूत्: became
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लीलया: playfully
• लीलया: Karana (करण/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/रीति (instrumental of manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It shows that the Supreme Lord (Pati), though complete and unsurpassed, willingly takes up action for the protection of dharma—His engagement in the world is līlā, not compulsion.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—the compassionate, accessible Lord who leads and protects. Linga-worship remembers this same Lord as the inner ruler who can manifest power and grace for devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate protective remembrance of Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) before duties or conflicts, grounding the mind in His lordship and calm readiness.