Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

अध्याय ५५ — बाणस्य पुनर्युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Bāṇa’s Renewed Engagement in Battle

Devanagari script

हृदा प्रणम्य गिरिशमामंत्र्य च बलेस्तुतम् । परिवारसमेतस्तु जगाम स्वपुरीं हरिः

Transliteration

hṛdā praṇamya giriśamāmaṃtrya ca balestutam | parivārasametastu jagāma svapurīṃ hariḥ

Translation

S’inclinant du fond du cœur devant Girīśa (le Seigneur Śiva) et prenant respectueusement congé de Bali qui l’avait loué, Hari (Viṣṇu), entouré de sa suite, partit vers sa propre cité.

Word by Word

• हृदा: with the heart
• हृदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘with (his) heart’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (नम् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having bowed’

• गिरिशम्: Giriśa (Śiva)
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: गिरि + ईश (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘lord of mountains’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आमन्त्र्य: having addressed/taken leave of
• आमन्त्र्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-मन्त्र् (मन्त्र् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having addressed/taken leave’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बलेः: of Bali
• बलेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• स्तुतम्: praised
• स्तुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘praised’ (object of implied action/gerund chain)

• परिवारसमेतः: accompanied by (his) attendants
• परिवारसमेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिवार + समेत (सम्-इ धातु, क्त)
• Form: समास: परिवार + समेत (तत्पुरुष: ‘accompanied by retinue’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• स्वपुरीम्: to his own city
• स्वपुरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + पुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: स्व + पुरी (तत्पुरुष: ‘own city’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a narrative closure where Viṣṇu acknowledges Śiva (Girīśa) after the humbling of Bāṇa, highlighting Śiva’s supremacy and grace in restoring dharma.

Significance: General tīrtha-bhāva: remembrance of Śiva as Girīśa and the etiquette of praṇāma/visarjana after divine encounter; reinforces śaraṇāgati as a means to receive anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Bali

FAQs

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

It highlights that true devotion is inward—“hṛdā praṇamya” (bowing from the heart). Even Hari (Viṣṇu) models humility before Girīśa (Śiva), showing that sincere bhakti and reverence toward Pati (the Lord) purify the soul and support liberation-oriented conduct.

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

Girīśa is invoked as a personal, worship-worthy Lord (Saguna Śiva) who receives heartfelt pranāma and formal leave-taking after darśana—mirroring temple/Liṅga worship where one offers namaskāra, stuti, and concludes with respectful departure (visarjana/bidding farewell).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice inner prostration and gratitude: after japa (e.g., pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or Liṅga-pūjā with bhasma/rudrākṣa, offer a heartfelt namaskāra and consciously take leave—carrying humility and remembrance into daily life.