Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

अनिरुद्धापहरणानन्तरं कृष्णस्य शोणितपुरगमनम् तथा रुद्रकृष्णयुद्धारम्भः | After Aniruddha’s Abduction: Kṛṣṇa Marches to Śoṇitapura and the Rudra–Kṛṣṇa Battle Begins

Devanagari script

बाणार्थे भगवान् रुद्रस्ससुतः प्रमथैर्वृतः । आरुह्य नन्दिवृषभं युद्धं कर्त्तुं समाययौ

Transliteration

bāṇārthe bhagavān rudrassasutaḥ pramathairvṛtaḥ | āruhya nandivṛṣabhaṃ yuddhaṃ karttuṃ samāyayau

Translation

Pour Bāṇa, Bhagavān Rudra—avec son fils et entouré des Pramathas—monta Nandi, le taureau sacré, et s’avança pour livrer bataille.

Word by Word

• बाण-अर्थे: for (the sake of) Bāṇa
• बाण-अर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष समास (purpose/for the sake of)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रुद्रः: Rudra (Śiva)
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स-सुतः: together with (his) son
• स-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्; सहार्थक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-सम्बन्धः ‘स’ = ‘सहित’ (with)

• प्रमथैः: by/with the Pramathas (attendants)
• प्रमथैः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (सह/करण), बहुवचन

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु, कर्मणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √रुह् (धातु) उपसर्ग आ-
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• नन्दि-वृषभम्: Nandi’s bull (Nandin)
• नन्दि-वृषभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष समास (Nandi’s bull)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्तुम्: to do / to wage
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (infinitive)

• समाययौ: came/approached
• समाययौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु) उपसर्ग सम्+आ
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; Rudra’s appearance is as protector of his devotee Bāṇa, illustrating īśvara’s readiness to intervene for the paśu bound by loyalty and pāśa.

Significance: Didactic significance: exemplifies Rudra’s bhakta-vātsalya (protective grace) even within cosmic conflict; encourages śaraṇāgati to Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Bana (Bāṇāsura)
• Nandi
• Pramathas

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati—the compassionate Lord who actively protects and upholds those connected to him; his mounting Nandi signifies dharma and steady divine governance even amid conflict.

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

Though the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent reality, this verse highlights Saguna Śiva—personally present, approachable, and responsive—encouraging devotees to worship with bhakti while remembering the formless truth behind the form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva with Nandi as the emblem of unwavering devotion and steadiness; japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a calm, resolute mind is the practical takeaway.