Shloka 8

अध्याय ५५ — बाणस्य पुनर्युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Bāṇa’s Renewed Engagement in Battle

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्णोपि महावीरो गिरिशाप्तमहाबलः । उच्चैर्जगर्ज तत्राजौ बाणं मत्वा तृणोपमम्

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇopi mahāvīro giriśāptamahābalaḥ | uccairjagarja tatrājau bāṇaṃ matvā tṛṇopamam

Translation

Even Śrī Kṛṣṇa—the great hero, endowed with immense strength by the ordinance of Girīśa (Lord Śiva)—roared aloud upon the battlefield, deeming Bāṇa no more than a blade of grass.

Word by Word

• श्री-कृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्री-कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (honorific/descriptive)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• महा-वीरः: the great hero
• महा-वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय; विशेषणरूपेण

• गिरिश-आप्त-महा-बलः: whose great strength was obtained from Girīśa
• गिरिश-आप्त-महा-बलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √आप् धातु, ‘प्राप्त’ अर्थे) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘यस्य महाबलं गिरिशात् आप्तम्’ (whose great strength is obtained from Girīśa)

• उच्चैः: loudly
• उच्चैः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच्चैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• जगर्ज: roared
• जगर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Desha (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• अजौ: in the battle
• अजौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अज’ = युद्ध/रण (battle) अर्थे

• बाणम्: Bāṇa (the demon)
• बाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• तृण-उपमम्: like a blade of grass
• तृण-उपमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘तृणस्य उपमः’ (like grass); ‘बाणम्’ इति विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Shiva
• Bana

FAQs

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

The verse underscores that even the might of a supreme hero like Kṛṣṇa operates under the higher divine ordinance (ājñā/anujñā) of Girīśa (Śiva). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, Śiva as Pati is the ultimate Lord who empowers all beings; worldly power is secondary to divine grace and governance.

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

By calling Śiva “Girīśa,” the text points to Śiva’s saguna lordship—His active sovereignty in the world. Linga-worship honors this accessible, worshipful form of Śiva as the supreme controller who grants strength, victory, and right order when approached with devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to seek Śiva’s anugraha (grace) before undertaking any struggle: recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and, if following Shiva Purana ritual norms, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and remember Śiva as Girīśa—the giver of true strength.