Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle

Devanagari script

यस्तु बाहुसहस्रं मे छिनत्त्वनलकाष्ठवत् । तथा शस्त्रैर्महातीक्ष्णैश्च्छिनद्मि शतशस्त्विह

Transliteration

yastu bāhusahasraṃ me chinattvanalakāṣṭhavat | tathā śastrairmahātīkṣṇaiścchinadmi śataśastviha

Translation

若有人在此将我千臂斩断，如同砍断林中枯枝；那人我也必以极其锋利的兵刃，一次又一次将其斩落。

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात (particle)

• bāhu-sahasram: a thousand arms
• bāhu-sahasram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक) + sahasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('a thousand arms'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; अस्मद्-शब्द

• chinatti: cuts off
• chinatti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• anala-kāṣṭha-vat: like firewood (for fire) / as (one cuts) fuel
• anala-kāṣṭha-vat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anala (प्रातिपदिक) + kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (simile adverbial: '-वत्' used indeclinably)

• tathā: thus / likewise
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/in that manner')

• śastraiḥ: with weapons
• śastraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• mahā-tīkṣṇaiḥ: very sharp
• mahā-tīkṣṇaiḥ: Karaṇa-anvaya (करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tīkṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास ('very sharp'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (agreeing with śastraiḥ)

• chinadmi: I cut
• chinadmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: chid (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• śataśaḥ: by hundreds / repeatedly
• śataśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śataśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—परिमाण/प्रकारवाचक (distributive adverb: 'by hundreds, repeatedly')

• iha: here
• iha: Deśādhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—देशवाचक (adverb of place)

Speaker

A powerful battlefield antagonist (a mighty asura/warrior) speaking in the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, as recounted by Sūta to the sages

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays the futility of pride and aggression in the face of dharma: the ego that boasts of power is bound by pasha (bondage), while Shiva as Pati remains the ultimate protector and regulator of all power.

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

The battle imagery highlights Saguna Shiva’s role as the Lord who subdues adharmic forces; devotion to the Linga trains the mind to surrender violence and arrogance into disciplined worship and restraint.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to pacify anger and strengthen surrender, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of restraint and devotion.