Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

बाण उवाच । देवदेव महादेव शरणा गतवत्सल । त्वां नमामि महेशान दीनबन्धो दयानिधे

Transliteration

bāṇa uvāca | devadeva mahādeva śaraṇā gatavatsala | tvāṃ namāmi maheśāna dīnabandho dayānidhe

Translation

Bāṇa said: “O God of gods, O Mahādeva—O compassionate One who is tender to those who take refuge in You—O Maheśāna, I bow to You, the friend of the helpless, the very ocean of mercy.”

Word by Word

• बाणः: Bāṇa
• बाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; वच् धातोः

• देव-देव: O god of gods
• देव-देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive): ‘देवानां देवः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘महान् देवः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; (गत्यर्थे ‘शरणं गच्छामि’ इत्यर्थे)

• गत-वत्सल: O one affectionate to those who have come (for refuge)
• गत-वत्सल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गत (गम् धातु, क्त) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (object-determinative): ‘गतं प्रति वत्सलः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• नमामि: I bow to
• नमामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महेशान: O Maheśāna
• महेशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘महान् ईशानः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• दीन-बन्धो: O friend of the poor
• दीन-बन्धो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘दीनानां बन्धुः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• दया-निधे: O treasure of compassion
• दया-निधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक) + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘दयायाः निधिः’; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Bāṇa (the demon-king Bāṇāsura)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; it is a direct śaraṇāgati-stuti: Śiva as devadeva, mahādeva, maheśāna—defined by refuge-love (śaraṇāgatavatsala) and compassion (dayānidhi).

Significance: Models the inner act of pilgrimage: surrender and praise; promises the ‘tīrtha’ of mercy—approach to Śiva through humility and refuge.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: devadeva mahādeva śaraṇāgatavatsala | tvāṃ namāmi maheśāna dīnabandho dayānidhe

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as the decisive act of bhakti: even in conflict, turning to Śiva as Dayānidhi (ocean of compassion) transforms fear into grace and protection, emphasizing Śiva’s role as Pati who liberates the bound soul (paśu) through mercy.

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

The verse addresses Śiva with personal epithets—Mahādeva, Maheśāna—highlighting Saguna devotion where the devotee approaches the Lord as a compassionate protector. In Linga-worship, the same attitude of surrender and praise is central: the Linga is honored as the living presence of that refuge-giving Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to recite a refuge-prayer to Śiva (optionally with the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the inner bhāva of surrender; this can be paired with simple Shiva-pūjā using bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of humility and dependence on Śiva’s grace.