Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः

Bāṇāsura’s Wrathful Command and the Onset of Battle at the Inner Palace

Devanagari script

येन मे कुलचारित्रं दूषितं दुहिता हिता । तं मारयध्वं कुपिताश्शीघ्रं शस्त्रैस्सुदारुणैः

Transliteration

yena me kulacāritraṃ dūṣitaṃ duhitā hitā | taṃ mārayadhvaṃ kupitāśśīghraṃ śastraissudāruṇaiḥ

Translation

Derjenige, durch den der gute Name und der Wandel meines Geschlechts befleckt wurde und durch den meiner lieben Tochter Unrecht geschah – erschlagt ihn sogleich, in eurem Zorn, mit überaus schrecklichen Waffen.

Word by Word

• येन: by whom / because of whom
• येन: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन; सम्बन्धे हेतौ वा

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive); एकवचन; एन्क्लिटिक रूप

• कुलचारित्रम्: family honor/lineage-conduct
• कुलचारित्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुल + चारित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुलस्य चारित्रम्)

• दूषितम्: defiled, corrupted
• दूषितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दूष् (धातु) → दूषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd); एकवचन; कुलचारित्रम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• दुहिता: daughter
• दुहिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुहितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• हिता: harmed/struck (lit. placed/affected)
• हिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हि (धातु) → हित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन; दुहिता इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• मारयध्वम्: kill (him)! / cause to die!
• मारयध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु) → मारय (णिच्)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• कुपिताः: O enraged ones
• कुपिताः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative-sense though nominative form used)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-Visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शस्त्रैः: with weapons
• शस्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन

• सुदारुणैः: very terrible
• सुदारुणैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd); बहुवचन; शस्त्रैः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; सु-उपसर्गपूर्वक

Speaker

A wrathful king/leader addressing his warriors (as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin in the Rudrasaṃhitā, Yuddhakhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how adharma is seen as a “pollution” of one’s lineage and duty, and how intense emotions like anger arise from attachment to honour; Shaiva teaching ultimately points beyond reactive violence toward restoration of dharma under Shiva’s higher order.

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

In the Yuddhakhaṇḍa setting, conflict and protection of dharma unfold under Saguna Shiva’s governance—Shiva as the immanent Lord who regulates karma and outcomes—reminding devotees that true refuge is taken in Shiva (often symbolized by the Linga) rather than in mere force.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No direct ritual is prescribed in this verse; as a Shaiva takeaway, one may steady anger through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and contemplative restraint, aligning action with dharma rather than impulse.