Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

अध्याय ५५ — बाणस्य पुनर्युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Bāṇa’s Renewed Engagement in Battle

Devanagari script

गतस्मृतिर्यदा बाण शिरश्छेत्तुं समुद्यतः । कृष्णो वीरत्वमापन्नस्तदा रुद्रस्समुत्थितः

Transliteration

gatasmṛtiryadā bāṇa śiraśchettuṃ samudyataḥ | kṛṣṇo vīratvamāpannastadā rudrassamutthitaḥ

Translation

Als Bāṇa, aller Besinnung beraubt, sich erhob, um (Kṛṣṇas) Haupt abzuschlagen, und Kṛṣṇa in heldischer Entschlossenheit standhielt—da erhob sich in eben diesem Augenblick Rudra (um einzugreifen).

Word by Word

• गतस्मृतिः: one whose memory was gone
• गतस्मृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: यस्य स्मृतिः गता सः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘बाणः’

• यदा: when
• यदा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (when)

• बाणः: Bāṇa
• बाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• छेत्तुम्: to cut off
• छेत्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/तुमर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), कर्तरि; ‘to cut’

• समुद्यतः: ready / intent
• समुद्यतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उद् + यत् → उद्यत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘उद्यत’ अर्थे ‘उत्थित/तत्पर’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘बाणः’

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• वीरत्वम्: heroism
• वीरत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आपन्नः: having attained / having assumed
• आपन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + पद् → आपन्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘कृष्णः’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समुत्थितः: arisen / risen up
• समुत्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उत् + स्था → उत्थित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण ‘रुद्रः’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Bāṇa
• Kṛṣṇa
• Rudra (Śiva)

FAQs

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

It shows how uncontrolled passion and delusion (gatasmṛti) drive a being toward adharmic violence, while the Lord (Rudra) rises to re-establish order—teaching that divine grace intervenes when ego and frenzy overtake discernment.

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

Rudra’s visible intervention highlights Saguna Śiva—God who actively protects dharma. For devotees, Linga-worship is remembrance of that ever-present Rudra who can ‘rise’ within consciousness to restrain destructive impulses and grant protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate smṛti (sacred remembrance) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with rudrākṣa, and steady the mind with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) as a daily reminder to restrain tamas and rajas before they become violent.