Shloka 15

अध्याय ५५ — बाणस्य पुनर्युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Bāṇa’s Renewed Engagement in Battle

Devanagari script

कृष्णोपि तानसंप्राप्तानच्छिनत्सशरैर्द्रुतम् । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजममरारि महाबलः

Transliteration

kṛṣṇopi tānasaṃprāptānacchinatsaśarairdrutam | smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojamamarāri mahābalaḥ

Translation

Even Kṛṣṇa—mighty, the foe of the gods’ enemies—remembered the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva; and at once, with swift arrows, he cut down those who had come upon him.

Word by Word

• कृष्णः: Krishna
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• तान्: those (arrows)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• असंप्राप्तान्: not yet arrived
• असंप्राप्तान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (निषेध) + संप्राप्त (कृदन्त, प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘not yet reached/arrived’

• अच्छिनत्: he cut off
• अच्छिनत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स-शरैः: with (his) arrows
• स-शरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपपद) + शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘सशरैः’ = with arrows

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

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

• अमर-अरिः: enemy of the gods
• अमर-अरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अमराणाम् अरिः’

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महद् बलं यस्य’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kṛṣṇa’s own remembrance of Śiva’s lotus-feet functions as a sectarian harmonization: even the Vaiṣṇava avatāra acts under Śiva’s grace, aligning with the Śiva Purāṇa’s claim of Śiva as Pati over all deities.

Significance: Teaches that Śiva-smaraṇa is universally efficacious (sarva-sādhāraṇa) and protective; for pilgrims, it legitimizes Śiva-bhakti as a supreme refuge regardless of one’s iṣṭa-devatā.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivapadāmbhojam (smaraṇa of Śiva’s lotus-feet)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Krishna

FAQs

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

It teaches that śiva-smaraṇa—remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet with devotion—instantly steadies the mind and empowers right action; even a great hero gains efficacy through surrender to Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord.

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

The verse highlights Saguna devotion: focusing on Śiva’s lotus-feet (a concrete, worshipful form). In Linga-worship too, the devotee centers awareness on Śiva as the accessible Lord whose grace removes obstacles and grants victory over inner and outer foes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śiva-smaraṇa and dhyāna: mentally bow to Śiva’s lotus-feet before action, and repeat a Śiva-mantra (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to align courage and skill with Śiva’s grace.