Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

रुद्रस्य रणप्रवेशः तथा दैत्यगणानां बाणवृष्टिः

Rudra Enters the Battlefield; the Daityas’ Arrow-Storm

Devanagari script

दैत्यांश्च बाणवात्याभिः पीडितानकरोत्तदा । प्रचंडबाणजालोघैरपातयत भूतले

Transliteration

daityāṃśca bāṇavātyābhiḥ pīḍitānakarottadā | pracaṃḍabāṇajāloghairapātayata bhūtale

Translation

Alors Il tourmenta les démons par des tempêtes de flèches, et, par de farouches torrents de filets de traits serrés, Il les abattit sur le sol.

Word by Word

• दैत्यान्: demons (Daityas)
• दैत्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बाण-वात्याभिः: by storms/whirlwinds of arrows
• बाण-वात्याभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + वात्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बाणानां वात्याः)

• पीडितान्: afflicted, tormented
• पीडितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीड् (धातु) → पीडित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (दैत्यान्)

• अकरोत्: made/did
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• प्रचण्ड-बाण-जाल-ओघैः: by torrents of nets/masses of fierce arrows
• प्रचण्ड-बाण-जाल-ओघैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (प्रचण्डानां बाणानां जालस्य ओघैः)

• अपातयत: caused to fall, felled
• अपातयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) caus. पातय्
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative)

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Daityas (demons)

FAQs

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

The “demons” signify obstructive forces—ego, cruelty, and ignorance—while the storm of arrows symbolizes the irresistible force of divine will that restores dharma; in Shaiva understanding, grace subdues the pashu-like tendencies bound by pasha.

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

Though the verse describes battlefield action, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s protective function—Shiva as the manifest Lord who intervenes in the world; Linga-worship contemplates that same Lord as the inner, unwavering reality behind all such leelas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing Shiva’s power cutting through inner negativity, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of restraint and devotion.