Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

ततः शार्ङ्गेण चापाङ्कात्स नारायणनीरदः । महता बाणवर्षेण तुतोद गणगोवृषम्

Transliteration

tataḥ śārṅgeṇa cāpāṅkātsa nārāyaṇanīradaḥ | mahatā bāṇavarṣeṇa tutoda gaṇagovṛṣam

Translation

Kemudian Nārāyaṇa, mengaum bagaikan awan hujan, menarik busur Śārṅga hingga ke hujungnya, lalu menimpa pemimpin Gaṇa Śiva yang laksana lembu jantan dengan hujan anak panah yang dahsyat.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (temporal/sequence adverb): "then"

• śārṅgeṇa: with Śārṅga (the bow)
• śārṅgeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• cāpāṅkāt: from the bow’s notch/curve
• cāpāṅkāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāpa-aṅka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-समर्थ तत्पुरुष (determinative): "cāpasya aṅkaḥ" (bow’s notch/curve); पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अपादान (from)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• nārāyaṇanīradaḥ: Nārāyaṇa, the cloud-like one
• nārāyaṇanīradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + nīrada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (appositional): "nārāyaṇaḥ (eva) nīradaḥ"; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• mahatā: with great
• mahatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; (bāṇavarṣeṇa सह)

• bāṇavarṣeṇa: with a shower of arrows
• bāṇavarṣeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: "bāṇānāṃ varṣaḥ"; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• tutoda: struck/pierced
• tutoda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tud (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• gaṇagovṛṣam: the bull of the gaṇas (Nandin)
• gaṇagovṛṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + go-vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative): "gaṇānāṃ go-vṛṣaḥ" (bull of the gaṇas); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It depicts the intensity of cosmic conflict at the level of Saguna divinities, while implying that true supremacy is not won by weapons but by alignment with Pati (Śiva), the transcendent Lord who ultimately grants liberation.

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

The Gaṇas are Śiva’s personal attendants, protectors of his manifested (Saguna) sphere; the verse reinforces devotion to Śiva’s tangible presence—symbolized foremost by the Liṅga—as the focal point where grace and protection are sought.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steadiness in japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and remembrance of Śiva as Pati during inner ‘battles’ of the mind, rather than retaliating through anger or ego.