Shloka 20

बाणस्य शोकः शिवस्मरणं च — Bāṇa’s Grief and the Turn to Śiva-Remembrance

Devanagari script

कृत्वा वराञ्शंभोर्बलिपुत्रो महाऽसुरः । प्रेम्णाऽश्रुनयनो रुद्रं तुष्टाव सुकृतांजलिः

Transliteration

kṛtvā varāñśaṃbhorbaliputro mahā'suraḥ | premṇā'śrunayano rudraṃ tuṣṭāva sukṛtāṃjaliḥ

Translation

Having obtained boons from Śambhu, the great Asura—Bali’s son—his eyes filled with tears of love, praised Rudra with hands reverently joined in a well-formed añjali.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), कृ धातोः; ‘having done’

• वरान्: boons
• वरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• बलि-पुत्रः: Bali’s son
• बलि-पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘बल्याः पुत्रः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• महासुरः: the great demon
• महासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘महान् असुरः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• प्रेम्णा: with love
• प्रेम्णा: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• अश्रु-नयनः: whose eyes were tearful
• अश्रु-नयनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + नयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘अश्रूणि नयने यस्य सः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; स्तु धातोः (स्तुतौ)

• सु-कृत-अञ्जलिः: with well-formed folded hands
• सु-कृत-अञ्जलिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘सुकृतः अञ्जलिः यस्य/येन’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; depicts anugraha in narrative form: an asura (Bali’s son) receives boons and responds with prema-bhakti, tears, and añjali—showing grace can transform even hostile lineages.

Significance: Teaches śaraṇāgati and stuti as direct means to receive grace; highlights that eligibility is devotion, not birth-line.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Shambhu
• Bali

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva’s grace (through boons) naturally ripens into bhakti—true devotion marked by humility, tears of love, and reverent praise—showing that inner transformation is superior to mere power.

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

The verse models Saguna-upāsanā: approaching Śambhu/Rudra as the personal Lord who bestows grace and is praised with añjali and stotra—core attitudes also central to Linga worship in the Shiva Purana tradition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practise heartfelt stuti with añjali (folded hands) and a softened mind; as a simple Shaiva discipline, combine this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a mood of surrender.