Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

अध्याय ५५ — बाणस्य पुनर्युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Bāṇa’s Renewed Engagement in Battle

Devanagari script

स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजं सहस्रभुजवान्द्रुतम् । महत्पराक्रमं चक्रे वैरिणां दुस्सहं स वै

Transliteration

smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojaṃ sahasrabhujavāndrutam | mahatparākramaṃ cakre vairiṇāṃ dussahaṃ sa vai

Translation

Der Lotosfüße des Herrn Śiva eingedenk, erhob sich der Tausendarmige sogleich zum Handeln und entfaltete gewaltige Tapferkeit — wahrlich unerträglich für seine Feinde.

Word by Word

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मृत्वा (अव्ययकृदन्त; √स्मृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having remembered’

• शिव-पद-अम्भोजम्: Shiva’s lotus-feet
• शिव-पद-अम्भोजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य पदम्; पदम् अम्भोजम् इव); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• सहस्र-भुज-वान्: having a thousand arms
• सहस्र-भुज-वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्/वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (सहस्रं भुजाः यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• द्रुतम्: swiftly
• द्रुतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √द्रु धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle) used adjectivally/avyaya-like; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; here adverbial sense ‘quickly’ qualifying action

• महत्-पराक्रमम्: great valor
• महत्-पराक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (महान् पराक्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (object of ‘did/performed’)

• चक्रे: performed, did
• चक्रे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• वैरिणाम्: of the enemies
• वैरिणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; ‘of/for’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैरिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन (genitive plural)

• दुस्सहम्: hard to bear
• दुस्सहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सह (प्रातिपदिक/√सह्)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-सदृश (दुः + सह = difficult to endure); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva’s lotus-feet is presented as a source of immediate empowerment and protection; in Siddhānta terms, it hints at śaktinipāta leading to steadiness and victory over obstacles.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivapadāmbhojam (smaraṇa of the lotus-feet of Śiva)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that smaraṇa—remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet—awakens divine support and inner śakti, making one’s righteous strength steady and unconquerable.

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

The verse emphasizes taking refuge in Saguna Śiva through his sacred feet—an intimate devotional focus akin to Linga-worship, where the devotee centers mind and action on Śiva as the protecting Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin any undertaking with Śiva-smaraṇa—mentally bow to Śiva’s feet and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind before action.