Shloka 46

बाणयुद्धम्, हरिहरसंवादः, ज्वरप्रकरणम्, अनिरुद्धमोचनम्

Bāṇa’s War, the Jvara Episode, Hari–Hara Dialogue, and Aniruddha’s Release

Devanagari script

युष्मद्दत्तवरो बाणो जीवताम् एष शंकर त्वद्वाक्यगौरवाद् एतन् मया चक्रं निवर्तितम्

Transliteration

yuṣmaddattavaro bāṇo jīvatām eṣa śaṃkara tvadvākyagauravād etan mayā cakraṃ nivartitam

Translation

“O Śaṅkara, let this arrow—endowed with the boon granted by you—remain and preserve life. Out of reverence for your word, I have withdrawn this discus.”

Word by Word

• युष्मत्-दत्त-वरः: whose boon was granted by you
• युष्मत्-दत्त-वरः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युष्मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दत्त (कृदन्त) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (युष्मद्भिः दत्तः वरः यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (बाणस्य)

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

• जीवताम्: let (him) live
• जीवताम्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), तृतीयपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; आशीर्वादार्थे ‘let (him) live’

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (Subject/apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• त्वत्-वाक्य-गौरवात्: out of respect for your word
• त्वत्-वाक्य-गौरवात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (त्वदीयं वाक्यं तस्य गौरवम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग ‘गौरव’ (प्रयोगे), पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana/Karta (Agent-instrument/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• चक्रम्: the discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• निवर्तितम्: was withdrawn / recalled
• निवर्तितम्: Kriya (Result state/क्रिया-फल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√वृत् (धातु) + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘(was) withdrawn/turned back’ (चक्रस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (implied, as the wielder of the discus Sudarśana, addressing Śaṅkara/Śiva)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He descends to protect devotees while upholding the inviolability of divine boons and the honor of Śiva’s word.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Sanctity of vows/boons and inter-deva concord while preventing adharma from triumphing.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power must be governed by reverence for truth and promises; restraint can be higher than conquest.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Keep commitments even when inconvenient; choose principled limitation over total victory.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s will integrates justice with grace, preserving the efficacy of subordinate divine acts (Śiva’s boon) within His supreme order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Bāṇa (arrow/weapon)

FAQs

What is the significance of revering another deity’s word in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that cosmic order is maintained not only by power but by dharmic restraint—Vishnu honors Śaṅkara’s spoken boon, showing that divine promises are binding within the moral structure of the universe.

How does Sage Parāśara frame the role of boons (varas) in divine narratives?

In Parāśara’s narration, boons function as lawful constraints within the cosmos: even supreme power (symbolized by the chakra) may be recalled when a valid boon has been granted, preserving the integrity of divine speech.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu appears as the sovereign who governs through both might and righteousness—his withdrawal of Sudarśana emphasizes supreme authority expressed as protection of dharma and preservation of life.