Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

गिलासुर-आक्रमणम् तथा शिवसैन्य-समाह्वानम् — The Assault of Gila and Śiva’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

करालं संशुष्कं बहुभुजलताक्रांतकुपितो विनिष्क्रांतः कर्णाद्रणशिरसि शंभोश्च भगवान्

Transliteration

karālaṃ saṃśuṣkaṃ bahubhujalatākrāṃtakupito viniṣkrāṃtaḥ karṇādraṇaśirasi śaṃbhośca bhagavān

Translation

于是，那位吉祥的主尊——可怖难观，因忿怒而枯燥，且被许多如臂之缠绕所擒缚——从耳中猛然冲出，跃入战场，甚至在商布（湿婆）之前。

Word by Word

• करालम्: terrible, grim
• करालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कर्मपदस्य)

• संशुष्कम्: completely dried
• संशुष्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग) + शुष् (धातु) → शुष्क (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• बहुभुजलताक्रान्तकुपितः: angered, having been seized/entangled by many arm-like creepers
• बहुभुजलताक्रान्तकुपितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्त (कृदन्त; क्रम् धातोः क्त) + कुपित (कृदन्त; कुप् धातोः क्त)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative chain), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भगवान्)

• विनिष्क्रान्तः: having come out, emerged
• विनिष्क्रान्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + निस् (उपसर्गौ) + क्रम् (धातु) → निष्क्रान्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भगवान्)

• कर्णात्: from (his) ear
• कर्णात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन

• रणशिरसि: on the battlefield-head/top (battlefield summit)
• रणशिरसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (determinative: ‘रणस्य शिरः’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (locative), एकवचन

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

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

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Śambhu)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Lord’s awe-inspiring, wrathful energy manifesting in battle—showing that even terrifying forms serve dharma and the protection of Shiva’s cosmic order, guiding devotees from fear toward surrender to Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s dynamic power—Shiva as Śambhu whose presence and command over fierce energies inspires devotional refuge (śaraṇāgati). Such narratives support Linga-worship by affirming Shiva as the supreme protector whose forms, gentle or terrible, are equally sacred.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva’s protective sovereignty while reciting the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and steady the mind with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance—transforming fear and agitation into bhakti and inner restraint.