Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

कडूंत्या निभृतैदोंर्भिर्युयुत्सुर्दिग्गजानहम् । पुराण्याचूर्णयन्नद्रीन्भीतास्तेपि प्रदुद्रुवुः

Transliteration

kaḍūṃtyā nibhṛtaidoṃrbhiryuyutsurdiggajānaham | purāṇyācūrṇayannadrīnbhītāstepi pradudruvuḥ

Translation

他渴望交战，以收敛而有力的双臂擒住四方守护的巨象；又将古老群山碾作尘粉，步步推进——令对手惊惧，亦纷纷奔逃。

Word by Word

• कडूंत्या: with/through ‘kaḍūṃtyā’ (unclear epithet)
• कडूंत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कडूंत्या (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूप)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (with/through ‘kaḍūṃtyā’—unclear epithet)

• निभृतैः: with restrained/controlled
• निभृतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निभृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• दोर्भिः: with arms
• दोर्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोर्भिस् ← दोर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• युयुत्सुः: desiring to fight
• युयुत्सुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युयुत्सु (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative adj. from √युध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (one who wishes to fight)

• दिग्गज: direction-elephants (guardian elephants)
• दिग्गज: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन (समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक ‘दिग्गज’); दिक्-सम्बन्धिनः गजाः

• अनहम्: (unclear epithet/descriptor)
• अनहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनह (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (meaning uncertain in this context)

• पुराणि: ancient/old
• पुराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• आचूर्णयन्: pulverizing/crushing
• आचूर्णयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √चूर्णय् (धातु; denom./causative sense ‘to pulverize’)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले क्रियापदम्

• अद्रीन्: mountains
• अद्रीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• भीताः: frightened
• भीताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीत (कृदन्त; √भी ‘to fear’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) विशेषणम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• प्रदुद्रुवुः: ran away/fled
• प्रदुद्रुवुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Diggajas (guardian elephants of the directions)

FAQs

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

It portrays overwhelming, world-shaking power that makes hostile forces flee—symbolizing how, before the sovereignty of Pati (Śiva) and His ordained order, the bindings of fear and ego lose their hold and are driven away.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s manifest sovereignty in protecting dharma; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize that the same supreme Lord who is beyond form also acts powerfully within form to subdue disorder.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take refuge in japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady the mind in fear, cultivating inner restraint (nibhṛtatā) and devotion while facing life’s conflicts.