Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle

Devanagari script

स स्वसैन्यं समाहूय संयुक्तः साष्टभिर्गणैः । इष्टिं सांग्रामिकां कृत्वा दृष्ट्वा सांग्रामिकं मधु

Transliteration

sa svasainyaṃ samāhūya saṃyuktaḥ sāṣṭabhirgaṇaiḥ | iṣṭiṃ sāṃgrāmikāṃ kṛtvā dṛṣṭvā sāṃgrāmikaṃ madhu

Translation

فجمع جيشه الخاص، وخرج مصحوبًا بالغانات الثمانية. ثم أقام طقس الحرب، قربانَ التكريس للقتال؛ وبعد ذلك أبصر «مَدهو» المعركة، الشراب المُهيِّج للهمة المُعَدّ للحملة.

Word by Word

• स: he
• स: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्व: his own
• स्व: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्राय विशेषण; समासपूर्वपदत्वे स्वकीयार्थ (own)

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समाहूय: having summoned
• समाहूय: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); उपसर्गौ सम्+आ (having summoned)

• संयुक्तः: joined/arrayed
• संयुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु) → संयुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: युज्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (joined/associated)

• स: with
• स: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय/उपपद)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (with)

• अष्टभिः: with eight
• अष्टभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (with eight)

• गणैः: troops/groups
• गणैः: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• इष्टिम्: a rite/sacrifice
• इष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (sacrifice/rite)

• सांग्रामिकाम्: martial
• सांग्रामिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सांग्रामिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (martial/war-related)

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); (having done/performed)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); (having seen)

• सांग्रामिकम्: martial/war-like
• सांग्रामिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सांग्रामिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मधु: honey/mead
• मधु: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (or प्रथमा/द्वितीया समानरूप); कर्मपदत्वे (object)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇas

FAQs

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

It shows that even forceful worldly action (yuddha) is to be preceded by consecration—turning intent and energy into an offering (iṣṭi). In a Shaiva Siddhanta sense, disciplined action becomes purified when aligned to dharma and offered to the Lord, rather than driven by ego.

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

The verse reflects Saguna-oriented devotion: seeking divine sanction and protection through rite and remembrance before undertaking a major act. Such consecration parallels approaching the Liṅga with reverence—first purifying intention, then acting as an instrument of the Lord (Pati) rather than as an independent doer.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin significant undertakings with a brief consecration: japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering water (arghya) mentally or at a Liṅga, and a resolve (saṅkalpa) to act without hatred—treating the work itself as iṣṭi (an offering).