Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

बाणोद्धारे भुजो ह्यस्य तूणीवदनसंगतः । प्रत्यदृश्यत वल्मीकं विवेक्षुरिव पन्नगः

Transliteration

bāṇoddhāre bhujo hyasya tūṇīvadanasaṃgataḥ | pratyadṛśyata valmīkaṃ vivekṣuriva pannagaḥ

Translation

ครั้นเขาชักศรออก แขนของเขาเมื่อเข้าใกล้ปากแล่งศร ก็ดูประหนึ่งนาคชูพังพานโผล่จากจอมปลวก ราวกับกำลังเสาะหาช่องทาง

Word by Word

• बाण-उद्धारे: at the drawing out of the arrow
• बाण-उद्धारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः बाणस्य उद्धारः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• भुजः: the arm
• भुजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• अस्य: of him/this (his)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तूणी-वदन-संगतः: joined to the mouth/opening of the quiver
• तूणी-वदन-संगतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तूणी (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक) + संगत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तूण्याः वदनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तेन संगतः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध) ; विशेषणम् (qualifying भुजः)

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (preverb/adverb: towards)

• अदृश्यत: was seen/appeared
• अदृश्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (was seen/appeared)

• वल्मीकम्: an anthill
• वल्मीकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वल्मीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विवेक्षुः: wishing to look (at it)
• विवेक्षुः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: उ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (desiderative/agent-noun sense: 'wishing to see'), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha/Prayojana (सम्बन्ध/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison: like/as)

• पन्नगः: a serpent
• पन्नगः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse uses a striking simile—an arm reaching into the quiver like a serpent from an anthill—to suggest alertness and viveka (discerning intelligence). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such wakeful discernment supports right action (dharma) while remaining oriented toward Pati (Shiva) as the inner ruler.

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

Though the verse is narrative and martial in imagery, it complements Saguna Shiva devotion by portraying disciplined, purposeful action. Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana repeatedly emphasizes that outward acts become sanctified when performed with steadiness, restraint, and remembrance of Shiva as the supreme Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cultivating viveka and ekāgratā (one-pointed focus) during japa—especially the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so the mind ‘reaches’ its aim without distraction, like the archer’s hand finding the arrow.