Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

बाणासुरस्य क्रोधाज्ञा तथा अन्तःपुरयुद्धारम्भः

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

Devanagari script

तदोवाच नभोवाणी बाणस्याश्वासनाय हि । शृण्वतां सर्ववीराणामनिरुद्धस्य मंत्रिणः

Transliteration

tadovāca nabhovāṇī bāṇasyāśvāsanāya hi | śṛṇvatāṃ sarvavīrāṇāmaniruddhasya maṃtriṇaḥ

Translation

แล้วเสียงจากฟ้ากล่าวขึ้นเพื่อปลอบประโลมบาณะ ขณะที่เหล่าวีรชนทั้งปวงกำลังสดับอยู่ รวมทั้งที่ปรึกษาของอนิรุทธะด้วย

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• उवाच: spoke
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन (3rd sg)

• नभो-वाणी: a voice from the sky
• नभो-वाणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (from the sky: 'voice of the sky'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन (Nom Sg)

• बाणस्य: of Bāṇa
• बाणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (Gen Sg)

• आश्वासनाय: for consolation, for reassurance
• आश्वासनाय: Prayojana/Sampradāna (प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्वासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी विभक्ति; एकवचन (Dative Sg); प्रयोजन (purpose)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• शृण्वताम्: while (they) were listening / of the listeners
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive absolute-like)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) 'शृण्वत्'; षष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Gen Pl)

• सर्व-वीराणाम्: of all the heroes
• सर्व-वीराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (all heroes); पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Gen Pl)

• अनिरुद्धस्य: of Aniruddha
• अनिरुद्धस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिरुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (Gen Sg)

• मन्त्रिणः: of the minister/counsellor
• मन्त्रिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन (Gen Sg)

Speaker

Nabhovāṇī (a divine/heavenly voice)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ākāśavāṇī (celestial voice) as omen-like intervention in the battle narrative

Characters & Entities

• Bāṇa
• Aniruddha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights īśvara-saṅkalpa—divine orchestration—where a heavenly voice steadies the distressed mind, indicating that beyond human strategy, events unfold under higher guidance toward dharma and the soul’s maturation.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the motif of a transcendent yet communicative Lord aligns with Saguna Śiva’s grace: the Supreme makes His will known in the world to protect dharma and regulate the outcomes of conflict.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati and japa: in anxiety, take refuge in Śiva and steady the mind with the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a contemplative remedy for fear and agitation.