Shloka 12

Devanagari script

आयातांस्तान्निरीक्ष्याऽथ स बाणो बलिनन्दनः । अप्राप्तानेव चिच्छेद स्वशरैस्स्वधनुश्च्युतैः

Transliteration

āyātāṃstānnirīkṣyā'tha sa bāṇo balinandanaḥ | aprāptāneva ciccheda svaśaraissvadhanuścyutaiḥ

Translation

Then Bāṇa, the son of Bali, seeing those missiles rushing toward him, cut them down with his own arrows released from his bow—shattering them before they could even reach their target.

Word by Word

• āyātān: come; approaching
• āyātān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√yā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying tān)

• tān: those (arrows)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• nirīkṣya: having seen
• nirīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having observed/seen’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• bāṇaḥ: Bāṇa
• bāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• balin-andanaḥ: Bali’s son
• balin-andanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (‘son of Bali’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपाधि

• aprāptān: not yet reached
• aprāptān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-prāpta (कृदन्त; pra-√āp/आप्)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying tān, understood)

• eva: just; indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• ciccheda: cut (them)
• ciccheda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sva-śaraiḥ: with his own arrows
• sva-śaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (‘own arrows’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• sva-dhanuḥ-cyutaiḥ: shot from his own bow
• sva-dhanuḥ-cyutaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhanuṣ (प्रातिपदिक) + cyuta (कृदन्त; √cyu/च्यु ‘to fall/issue forth’)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (‘released from his own bow’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying śaraiḥ)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Bāṇa
• Bali

FAQs

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

It highlights the theme that worldly power and tactical skill can neutralize external threats, yet in Shaiva Siddhānta true safety ultimately rests in taking refuge in Pati (Śiva), not merely in martial prowess.

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

In the Yuddha narrative, conflicts show the limits of ego-driven might; Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship trains the devotee to surrender outcomes to Śiva, the Lord who governs all powers and dissolves pride into devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As an inner discipline during “incoming arrows” of life, repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steadiness; support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and mindful restraint to cut down reactive impulses before they “reach” the mind.