Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

शिवशङ्खचूडयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa

Devanagari script

अट्टाट्टहासमशिवं क्षेत्रपालश्चकार ह । भैरवोऽपि महानादं स चकार महाहवे

Transliteration

aṭṭāṭṭahāsamaśivaṃ kṣetrapālaścakāra ha | bhairavo'pi mahānādaṃ sa cakāra mahāhave

Translation

在那场大战中，刹多罗波罗发出凶猛不祥的阿吒吒大笑；而怖畏罗也在广阔战场上发出震天的怒吼。

Word by Word

• अट्टाट्टहासम्: a loud peal of laughter
• अट्टाट्टहासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अट्टाट्टहास (प्रातिपदिक; onomatopoetic laughter)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• अशिवम्: inauspicious/terrible
• अशिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशिव (प्रातिपदिक; a- + शिव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (qualifier of अट्टाट्टहासम्)

• क्षेत्रपालः: Kṣetrapāla (guardian of the field)
• क्षेत्रपालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रपाल (प्रातिपदिक; components: क्षेत्र + पाल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• चकार: did/made
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/metrical filler)

• भैरवः: Bhairava
• भैरवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

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

• महानादम्: a great roar
• महानादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महानाद (प्रातिपदिक; components: महा + नाद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), एकवचन (singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• चकार: made
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• महाहवे: in the great battle
• महाहवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव (प्रातिपदिक; components: महा + आहव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी (7th case/locative), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapāla
• Bhairava
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s protective, fierce energies manifested through attendants like Kṣetrapāla and forms like Bhairava—terrifying to adharmic forces yet safeguarding to devotees, reminding that divine protection can appear awe-inspiring rather than gentle.

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

Bhairava and Kṣetrapāla represent Saguna aspects of Śiva—accessible forms through which the Lord actively defends dharma; such fierce guardianship complements Liṅga worship by emphasizing Śiva as both transcendent (Liṅga) and immanent protector (Bhairava).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with Śiva-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, where traditional, to honor Bhairava as a guardian with disciplined devotion, purity, and protective remembrance rather than fear.