Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः

Bāṇāsura’s Wrathful Command and the Onset of Battle at the Inner Palace

Devanagari script

तस्येच्छयाऽबलो ज्ञेयो बली बलि वरात्मज । इति विज्ञाय मनसि स्वस्थो भव महामते

Transliteration

tasyecchayā'balo jñeyo balī bali varātmaja | iti vijñāya manasi svastho bhava mahāmate

Translation

知れ、かの御方の御意志によって、たとえ強大な者も無力となるのだ、バリの高貴なる子よ。これを心中に悟り、心を安らかにして揺るがずに在れ、大いなる心の者よ。

Word by Word

• tasya: of him/of that (one)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• icchayā: by (his) will
• icchayā: Hetu/Karana (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/हेतु

• abalaḥ: weak/powerless
• abalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a (निषेध) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• jñeyaḥ: to be understood (as)
• jñeyaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्-प्रत्यय, भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/कृत्य), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण “to be known/should be understood”

• balī: Bali
• balī: Karta (कर्ता/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (Bali as topic)

• bali: O Bali
• bali: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; सम्बोधन

• vara-ātmaja: O son of Vāra (Varuṇa) / O noble son
• vara-ātmaja: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; सम्बोधन; वरस्य आत्मजः

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative/particle) “thus”

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/त्वान्त), “having understood/knowing”

• manasi: in (your) mind
• manasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• svasthaḥ: calm/at ease
• svasthaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (√sthā-धातोः क्त/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate)

• bhava: be
• bhava: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mahā-mate: O great-minded one
• mahā-mate: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; सम्बोधन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bali

FAQs

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

It teaches that all power and limitation operate under Shiva’s sovereign will (Pati). Realizing this, the devotee drops ego and fear, and abides in inner steadiness—an essential Shaiva disposition for liberation.

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

In Saguna worship (Linga as the accessible form of Shiva), the devotee learns to see every outcome as Shiva’s ordinance. This transforms worship from mere petition into surrender and trust, making the mind “svastha” (composed) through remembrance of the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namah Shivaya”) with the intent of surrendering results to Shiva, and meditate on becoming mentally steady (svastha) before the Linga; this supports detachment and devotion, especially suitable for Mahashivratri vows.