Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

अध्याय ५५ — बाणस्य पुनर्युद्धप्रवृत्तिः

Bāṇa’s Renewed Engagement in Battle

Devanagari script

धनुष्टंकारयामास शार्ङ्गाख्यं निजमद्भुतम् । त्रासयन्बाणसैन्यं तदवशिष्टं मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

dhanuṣṭaṃkārayāmāsa śārṅgākhyaṃ nijamadbhutam | trāsayanbāṇasainyaṃ tadavaśiṣṭaṃ munīśvara

Translation

Ô meilleur des sages, il fit retentir d’un fracas de tonnerre la corde de son arc merveilleux, nommé Śārṅga, terrifiant ainsi les troupes restantes de Bāṇa.

Word by Word

• धनुष्टंकारयामास: made (the bow) resound/twang
• धनुष्टंकारयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: टंकारय् (धातु) < टंकार (प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु) (णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्सभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative) — ‘made (it) twang’

• शार्ङ्गाख्यम्: named ‘Śārṅga’
• शार्ङ्गाख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शार्ङ्ग-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—शार्ङ्ग इति आख्या यस्य/यत् (named ‘Śārṅga’)

• निजम्: his own
• निजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• त्रासयन्: frightening
• त्रासयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्रस् (धातु) (णिच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; णिच्—‘causing fear’

• बाणसैन्यम्: the army of arrows
• बाणसैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण-सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—बाणानां सैन्यम् (army of arrows/archers)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशक-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• अवशिष्टम्: remaining
• अवशिष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘remaining’

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मुनीनां ईश्वरः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Bāṇa

FAQs

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

The bow’s thunderous twang symbolizes the irresistible force of divine will that dissolves fear and pride; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, when Pati (the Lord) asserts grace and order, the pashu’s (bound soul’s) supports—egoic armies—begin to collapse.

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

Though the verse is martial, it highlights Saguna Shiva’s realm of divine action—God as protector and regulator of dharma; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize the same Lord behind both stillness (Linga) and decisive power (the Lord’s heroic acts).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—especially when fear arises, visualizing Shiva’s protective presence dispelling inner ‘armies’ of anxiety and agitation.