Shloka 4

Arjuna–Gaṇa Saṃvāda: Bāṇādhikāra, Tāpasa-veṣa, and the Ethics of Tapas (अर्जुन-गणसंवादः)

Devanagari script

गण प्रोवाच तं तत्र किमर्थं गृह्यते शरः । बाणश्चैवास्मदीयो वै मुच्यतां ऋषिसत्तम

Transliteration

gaṇa provāca taṃ tatra kimarthaṃ gṛhyate śaraḥ | bāṇaścaivāsmadīyo vai mucyatāṃ ṛṣisattama

Translation

The Gaṇas said to him there: “For what purpose are you taking up this arrow? Truly, this arrow belongs to Bāṇa, to our own side. O best of sages, release it—set it down.”

Word by Word

• गणः: the gaṇa (attendant)
• गणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः: वच् (to speak) उपसर्गः प्र

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• किम्: what
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अर्थम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अर्थम्: purpose
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (प्रयोजन), एकवचन; ‘किमर्थम्’ = for what purpose

• गृह्यते: is being taken
• गृह्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): is being taken

• शरः: arrow
• शरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बाणः: the arrow
• बाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक

• अस्मदीयः: ours
• अस्मदीयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्मद् + ईय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक विशेषण (possessive adjective): belonging to us

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चयार्थक

• मुच्यताम्: let (it) be released
• मुच्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive imperative): let it be released

• ऋषिसत्तम: O best of sages
• ऋषिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; समासः: ऋषीणां सत्तमः = best of sages

Speaker

The Gaṇas (attendants of Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Bana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharmic restraint: even in tension or conflict, one should not seize what belongs to another’s rightful side. In a Shaiva frame, the Gaṇas represent Śiva’s order (niyati) reminding the seeker to act with discernment rather than impulse.

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

Though not directly about Liṅga worship, it reflects Saguna Śiva’s governance through his Gaṇas—divine attendants who uphold harmony and proper conduct. Devotion to Śiva includes aligning one’s actions with this order and self-control.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is saṃyama (restraint) supported by japa: repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to calm reactive impulses and act in accordance with dharma.