Shloka 18

Diti’s Puṁsavana Vow, Indra’s Intervention, and the Birth of the Maruts

Devanagari script

बाण आराध्य गिरिशं लेभे तद्गणमुख्यताम् । यत्पार्श्वे भगवानास्ते ह्यद्यापि पुरपालक: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

bāṇa ārādhya giriśaṁ lebhe tad-gaṇa-mukhyatām yat-pārśve bhagavān āste hy adyāpi pura-pālakaḥ

Translation

Parce que le roi Bāṇa vénéra avec ferveur Girīśa (le Seigneur Śiva), il obtint une place éminente parmi les compagnons illustres de Śiva. Aujourd’hui encore, Bhagavān Śaṅkara se tient à ses côtés et protège sa capitale.

Synonyms

• बाणः: Bāṇa
• बाणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• आराध्य: having worshiped/propitiated
• आराध्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Pūrvakriyā/absolutive; having done)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• गिरिशम्: Giriśa (Śiva)
• गिरिशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• लेभे: obtained
• लेभे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• तत्-गण-मुख्यताम्: the status of chief among his attendants
• तत्-गण-मुख्यताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; thing obtained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'chiefship of his gaṇa'), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• यत्-पार्श्वे: at whose side
• यत्-पार्श्वे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'at whose side'), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• आस्ते: sits/dwells
• आस्ते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed/for)

• अद्यापि: even today/still
• अद्यापि: सम्बन्ध (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: even today/still)

• पुर-पालकः: protector of the city
• पुर-पालकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition to भगवान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (Tatpuruṣa; 'protector of the city'), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

Characters & Entities

• Bāṇāsura
• Girīśa (Lord Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the results of worshiping Lord Shiva?

This verse states that by propitiating Lord Śiva, Bāṇa attained exalted status among Śiva’s attendants, and Śiva personally remained as the protector of his city—showing the tangible protection and elevation granted by Śiva’s favor.

Why is Bāṇāsura described as being protected by Lord Shiva even today?

Śukadeva highlights the enduring nature of Śiva’s guardianship: because Bāṇa pleased Śiva through worship, Śiva stayed by his side as a continuing protector, emphasizing the steadfastness of a deity’s benediction once granted.

How can a devotee apply this teaching in modern life?

The verse underscores disciplined worship and sincere devotion: by steady reverence and service to the divine, one gains inner strength, protection, and rightful standing—encouraging consistent spiritual practice rather than sporadic effort.