Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

बाणांधकारसंछन्नं दृष्ट्वा गणबलं हरः । तद्बाणजालमाच्छिद्य बाणैराववृते नभः

Transliteration

bāṇāṃdhakārasaṃchannaṃ dṛṣṭvā gaṇabalaṃ haraḥ | tadbāṇajālamācchidya bāṇairāvavṛte nabhaḥ

Translation

Als Hara das Heer der Gaṇas sah, von der Finsternis der Pfeile umhüllt, zerschnitt Er jenes Geschossnetz; und mit Seinen eigenen Pfeilen bedeckte Er den Himmel ringsum.

Word by Word

• बाणान्धकारसंछन्नम्: covered by an ‘arrow-darkness’
• बाणान्धकारसंछन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाण + अन्धकार + संछन्न (प्रातिपदिक; संछन्न < सम्-√छद् (धातु))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘संछन्न’ = covered; समासः तत्पुरुषः (बाणैः अन्धकारवत् संछन्नम् / बाण-अन्धकारेण संछन्नम्)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) = having seen

• गणबलम्: the gaṇas’ force/army
• गणबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां बलम्)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; शिवनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘that’ (referring to the arrow-net)

• बाणजालम्: net/mass of arrows
• बाणजालम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (बाणानां जालम्)

• आच्छिद्य: having cut through
• आच्छिद्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√छिद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) = having cut off / having destroyed

• बाणैः: with arrows
• बाणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• आववृते: was covered
• आववृते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘आववृते’ = was covered/was enveloped

• नभः: the sky
• नभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Hara)
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The “darkness of arrows” symbolizes obstructive forces and bondage (pāśa) that cloud discernment; Hara severing the net signifies Pati’s sovereign grace and power to remove coverings and restore order for His devotees (the gaṇas).

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s protective and victorious aspect—He actively intervenes in the world to uphold dharma. Linga-worship trains the mind to see that the same Supreme (Pati) who is transcendent also manifests as compassionate protector in divine līlā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the remover of inner “darkness” (ignorance and fear) and recite the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeking steadiness and protection; apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder to cut through worldly entanglements.