Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

शिवशङ्खचूडयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Battle between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa

Devanagari script

वह्निकूटप्रभा यांती क्षेत्रपालेन सत्वरम् । निरस्तागत्य साजौ वै मुखोत्पन्नमहोल्कया

Transliteration

vahnikūṭaprabhā yāṃtī kṣetrapālena satvaram | nirastāgatya sājau vai mukhotpannamaholkayā

Translation

它光耀如一团炽烈火堆，在刹帝罗波罗的催动下疾冲向前；然而一入战阵，便被从他口中迸出的巨大火焰流星迅速击退。

Word by Word

• वह्नि-कूट-प्रभा: having the radiance of a heap of fire
• वह्नि-कूट-प्रभा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + कूट (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वह्नेः कूटस्य प्रभा/वह्निकूटवत् प्रभा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying implied ‘śaktiḥ’/‘olka’/‘sā’)

• यान्ती: going, moving
• यान्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षेत्रपालेन: by Kṣetrapāla
• क्षेत्रपालेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षेत्रस्य पालः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• सत्वरम्: swiftly, hastily
• सत्वरम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• निरस्ता: having been repelled/warded off
• निरस्ता: Kriya (कर्मणि-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-रस्/निरस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘thrown away/repelled’

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having come’

• सा: she/that (weapon)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; refers to the weapon/bolt

• अजौ: in battle
• अजौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; ‘in battle’ (locative)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• मुख-उत्पन्न-महा-उल्कया: by/with a great meteor (firebrand) sprung from (his) mouth
• मुख-उत्पन्न-महा-उल्कया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पन्न (कृदन्त, √पद्/√पन् ‘arise’ with ut-) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: मुखोत्पन्न = सप्तमी/पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुष (मुखात् उत्पन्ना); महोल्का = कर्मधारय (महा उल्का); समस्तपदम् स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapāla

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva theme that adharma-driven aggression is checked by a higher protective force—here symbolized by Kṣetrapāla and the fiery “ulka,” showing that divine guardianship can instantly restrain hostile momentum.

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

Kṣetrapāla functions as a Saguna expression of Shiva’s protective authority associated with sacred space (kṣetra). In Linga-centered worship, such guardianship signifies that the Lord safeguards the sanctity of the shrine and the devotee’s approach.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Remembering Shiva as the protector of the kṣetra and the self can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a brief prayer to Kṣetrapāla for removal of obstacles and inner impurities before worship.