Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः

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

Devanagari script

तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितं वाक्यं किं कारणमथाब्रवीत् । बाणः क्रोध परीतात्मा युधि शौंडो हसन्निव

Transliteration

taṃ dṛṣṭvā vismitaṃ vākyaṃ kiṃ kāraṇamathābravīt | bāṇaḥ krodha parītātmā yudhi śauṃḍo hasanniva

Translation

అతనిని ఆశ్చర్యపడినవాడిగా చూసి బాణుడు పలికెను—“దీనికి కారణమేమిటి?” క్రోధంతో కప్పబడిన మనస్సున్నా, యుద్ధంలో దిట్ట అయిన వాడు నవ్వినట్లే మాట్లాడెను.

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund)

• विस्मितम्: astonishing
• विस्मितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• कारणम्: reason, cause
• कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बाणः: Bāṇa
• बाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्रोध: with anger
• क्रोध: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental) एकवचन-तुल्य प्रयोगः/समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण (intended: क्रोधेन)

• परीतात्मा: whose mind was overcome (by anger)
• परीतात्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-इ (धातु) → परीत (कृदन्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (क्रोधेन परीतः आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (बाणस्य)

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध्/युधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• शौण्डः: daring, impetuous
• शौण्डः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• हसन्: laughing
• हसन्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हस् (धातु) → हसन्त् (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (बाणस्य)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the battle episode to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Bāṇa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a Shaiva ethical insight: even in intense conflict, inner states like krodha (anger) shape perception and speech. The “as if smiling” tone shows how pride and fury can mask themselves as confidence—an obstacle to surrender to Pati (Shiva) and to inner purification.

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

Yuddha-kathā in the Shiva Purana often contrasts human/asuric ego with devotion to Saguna Shiva, the Lord who grants grace when one turns from anger and self-will. Remembering Shiva as the inner ruler (Pati) encourages the devotee to replace reactive krodha with śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) symbolized in Linga-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cool anger and steady the mind before action. Applying vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) with remembrance of Shiva also serves as a restraint on impulsive speech and hostility.