Shloka 42

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

बलिपुत्रो महाशैवश्शिवानुग्रहतो वशी । बाणो बभूव ब्रह्माण्डनायकस्सकलेश्वरः

Transliteration

baliputro mahāśaivaśśivānugrahato vaśī | bāṇo babhūva brahmāṇḍanāyakassakaleśvaraḥ

Translation

Bāṇa, the son of Bali, a great devotee of Śiva, became powerful through Śiva’s grace; he became a ruler of the cosmic realm, a lord over all.

Word by Word

• बलिपुत्रः: Bali's son
• बलिपुत्रः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'son of Bali'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाशैवः: a great Śaiva
• महाशैवः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाशैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बलिपुत्रः-विशेषण

• शिवानुग्रहतः: from Śiva's grace
• शिवानुग्रहतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• वशी: powerful; self-controlled
• वशी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त; बलिपुत्रः-विशेषण

• बाणः: Bāṇa
• बाणः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पूर्वपद-समनाधिकरण (apposition to बलिपुत्रः)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ब्रह्माण्डनायकः: lord of the cosmos
• ब्रह्माण्डनायकः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; predicate/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'lord of the universe/egg of Brahmā'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बाणः-समनाधिकरण

• सकलईश्वरः: lord of all
• सकलईश्वरः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject; predicate/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (Karmadhāraya; 'sakala īśvaraḥ' = universal lord), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बाणः-समनाधिकरण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bali
• Bana

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace) as the decisive spiritual power: even a worldly ruler gains strength and status through devotion, showing that all capacities ultimately arise from Pati (Śiva) rather than from ego or mere birth.

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

Bāṇa’s greatness is explicitly rooted in Śiva’s favor, pointing to Saguna Śiva as the accessible bestower of grace; Linga-worship and bhakti are presented as direct means to receive Śiva’s anugraha that elevates and protects the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is grace-centered bhakti: daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Linga-pūjā, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks of surrender and remembrance of Śiva.