Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः

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

Devanagari script

गुरुभिर्मुष्टिनिर्घातैर्दारयामास पंजरम् । शरांस्तान्भस्मसात्कृत्वा सर्परूपान्भयानकान्

Transliteration

gurubhirmuṣṭinirghātairdārayāmāsa paṃjaram | śarāṃstānbhasmasātkṛtvā sarparūpānbhayānakān

Translation

重く砕くような拳の一撃一撃で、彼は檻を打ち破った。さらに、恐るべき蛇の姿をした矢を灰と化し、その力を失わせた。

Word by Word

• गुरुभिः: heavy/forceful
• गुरुभिः: करण-विशेषण (instrument modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; qualifies muṣṭinirghātaiḥ

• मुष्टिनिर्घातैः: with blows of the fist
• मुष्टिनिर्घातैः: करण (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि-निर्घात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (मुष्ट्या निर्घाताः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• दारयामास: split open / tore
• दारयामास: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दॄ/√दर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Periphrastic Perfect/परस्मैपद-प्रयोगः), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative sense ‘to split’ (दारयति)

• पंजरम्: the cage/structure (rib-cage/armor)
• पंजरम्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंजर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शरान्: arrows
• शरान्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; demonstrative qualifying śarān

• भस्मसात्: to ashes; completely
• भस्मसात्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भस्म-सात् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण (to ashes, utterly)

• कृत्वा: having made/done
• कृत्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; prior action

• सर्परूपान्: having the form of serpents
• सर्परूपान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्प-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सर्पस्य रूपम्), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; qualifies (those arrows)

• भयानकान्: terrifying
• भयानकान्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; qualifies sarparūpān/śarān

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse depicts the Lord breaking confinement and turning fearsome, delusion-producing forces into ash—symbolizing how Shiva, as Pati (the Lord), destroys pāśa (bondage) and neutralizes terror at its root.

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

It highlights Saguna Shiva’s protective, active grace: the same Lord worshipped in the Liṅga is the one who intervenes in the world to dissolve hostile forces, guiding devotees from fear toward steadiness in devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate bhasma as the sign of impermanence and inner purification (Tripuṇḍra with reverence), and steady the mind in Shiva-remembrance—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to ‘ash’ fear and negativity.