Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

हे देव किमनेनापि सहस्रेण करोम्यहम् । बाहूनां गिरितुल्यानां विना युद्धं वृषध्वज

Transliteration

he deva kimanenāpi sahasreṇa karomyaham | bāhūnāṃ giritulyānāṃ vinā yuddhaṃ vṛṣadhvaja

Translation

O Herr, wozu brauche ich auch nur tausend (Helfer)? Selbst ohne Kampf werde ich es mit meinen Armen vollbringen, die Bergen gleichen – o Vṛṣadhvaja, du mit dem Stierbanner (Śiva).

Word by Word

• हे: O!
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: he (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, vocative particle (सम्बोधन-निपात)

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative Singular (सम्बोधन एकवचन)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Interrogative pronoun, Neuter, Accusative Singular (द्वितीया एकवचन)

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter, Instrumental Singular (तृतीया एकवचन)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (अपि = even/also)

• सहस्रेण: with a thousand
• सहस्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental Singular (तृतीया एकवचन)

• करोमि: I do/make
• करोमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, present), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa, Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन)

• बाहूनाम्: of arms
• बाहूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive Plural (षष्ठी बहुवचन)

• गिरितुल्यानाम्: mountain-like
• गिरितुल्यानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: giri (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘equal to mountains’; Masculine, Genitive Plural (षष्ठी बहुवचन); adjective to बाहूनाम्

• विना: without
• विना: Apavarga/Exclusion (वर्जन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, preposition/postposition ‘without’ (विना-योगे तृतीया/द्वितीया; here with accusative)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular (द्वितीया एकवचन)

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa-dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) epithet ‘whose banner is the bull’; Masculine, Vocative Singular (सम्बोधन एकवचन)

Speaker

A warrior addressing Lord Shiva (Vṛṣadhvaja) in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative (identity not stated in the given snippet)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: he deva kimanenāpi sahasreṇa karomyaham | bāhūnāṃ giritulyānāṃ vinā yuddhaṃ vṛṣadhvaja

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The speaker expresses unwavering confidence and self-offering before Śiva (Vṛṣadhvaja), showing that strength becomes meaningful when aligned with the Lord’s will—an attitude of śaraṇāgati (surrender) within a heroic, dharmic context.

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

Addressing Śiva by the personal epithet “Vṛṣadhvaja” highlights Saguna devotion—seeing the Supreme (Pati) as a living protector and guide. Such reverent address is the same devotional mood cultivated in Liṅga worship, where the devotee acts as an instrument of Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to cultivate fearless devotion through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before undertaking difficult duties, along with simple Śiva-upāsanā such as vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and a brief prayer of surrender to Vṛṣadhvaja for steadiness and protection.