Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 52

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

यमास्थाय धनुर्बाणान् गृहीत्वा योज्य व मनः । निहनिष्याम्यहं दैत्यान् प्रबलानपि संगरे

Transliteration

yamāsthāya dhanurbāṇān gṛhītvā yojya va manaḥ | nihaniṣyāmyahaṃ daityān prabalānapi saṃgare

Translation

骑上阎摩（Yama），手持弓箭，坚定心神，我将在战斗中击溃大提亚（Daityas）——即便他们势力强大。

Word by Word

• यम्: whom
• यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आस्थाय: having taken refuge in/approached
• आस्थाय: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), from √स्था; ‘having resorted to/approached’

• धनुः: bow
• धनुः: कर्म (Karma/Object of गृहीत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बाणान्: arrows
• बाणान्: कर्म (Karma/Object of गृहीत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken/held
• गृहीत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), from √ग्रह्

• योज्य: having fixed/adjusted
• योज्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/तुमुनर्थे क्त्वान्त-समकक्षः; here as absolutive-like ‘having fixed/aimed/controlled’; (often read as योज्य = having yoked/adjusted)

• व: indeed/also (particle)
• व: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: व (अव्यय)
• Form: पादपूरण/वैकल्पिक-अव्यय (enclitic particle, often = इव/वा/च in manuscripts)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (object of implied ‘to fix’)

• निहनिष्यामि: I will slay
• निहनिष्यामि: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दैत्यान्: Daityas/demons
• दैत्यान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• प्रबलान्: strong/mighty
• प्रबलान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies दैत्यान्)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (particle: ‘even/also’)

• संगरे: in battle
• संगरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative: place)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

An allied deity/warrior in Shiva’s army (narrated within Sūta Goswami’s discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Daityas

FAQs

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

It teaches that victory over adharma requires inner mastery: the mind must be yoked (yojya manaḥ) before outward action, reflecting Shaiva emphasis on disciplined will aligned to dharma.

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

Though set in a battle context, it echoes Saguna Shiva’s protection of cosmic order: devotees contemplate Shiva as the sustaining Pati who empowers dharmic forces to subdue demonic tendencies (daitya-bhāva) within and without.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key takeaway is mind-discipline before action—practically supported by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady breath-awareness to ‘yoke the mind’ (manaḥ-yoga) prior to any demanding duty.