Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18

देवपराजयः — शङ्करशरणागमनं स्कन्दकालीयुद्धं च | Devas’ Defeat, Refuge in Śaṅkara, and the Battle of Skanda and Kālī

Devanagari script

वरं विमानमारुह्य नानाशस्त्रास्त्रसंयुतम् । अभयं सर्ववीराणां नानारत्नपरिच्छदम्

Transliteration

varaṃ vimānamāruhya nānāśastrāstrasaṃyutam | abhayaṃ sarvavīrāṇāṃ nānāratnaparicchadam

Translation

他登上殊胜的空中天车，具足种种兵器与神射之器——令诸勇士皆得无畏——并以多类宝石镶嵌的饰物庄严其上。

Word by Word

• वरम्: excellent, splendid
• वरम्: विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण विमानम् इति

• विमानम्: aerial chariot
• विमानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण / prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having mounted/ascended’

• नाना-शस्त्र-अस्त्र-संयुतम्: equipped with various weapons and missiles
• नाना-शस्त्र-अस्त्र-संयुतम्: विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सम् + युज् (धातु)
• Form: सम्+युज्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘endowed with’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण विमानम् इति

• अभयम्: fearless; giving fearlessness
• अभयम्: विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण विमानम् इति

• सर्व-वीराणाम्: of all warriors
• सर्व-वीराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘of all heroes/warriors’

• नाना-रत्न-परिच्छदम्: adorned with various jewels
• नाना-रत्न-परिच्छदम्: विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + परिच्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण विमानम् इति; ‘having various jewels as adornment/covering’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse highlights abhaya (fearlessness) as a divine quality: when action is aligned with dharma and the Lord’s order, the devotee-warrior is inwardly protected. The gem-adorned, well-equipped chariot symbolizes divinely supported effort rather than ego-driven violence.

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

Though the verse is descriptive and martial, it belongs to Saguna Shiva’s narrative world where the Lord’s power manifests as protection and order in creation. Linga-worship trains the same inner surrender, so the devotee receives Shiva’s ‘abhaya’—steadiness amid conflict.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s abhaya while japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and mentally offer fear and agitation into the Linga as an inner oblation—cultivating courage, restraint, and dharmic clarity.