Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

बाणस्य शोकः शिवस्मरणं च — Bāṇa’s Grief and the Turn to Śiva-Remembrance

Devanagari script

वारीश्च विविधाकारा दर्शयित्वा शनैश्शनः । तथा शोणितधाराभिस्सिञ्चयित्वा महीतलम्

Transliteration

vārīśca vividhākārā darśayitvā śanaiśśanaḥ | tathā śoṇitadhārābhissiñcayitvā mahītalam

Translation

他渐次显现诸水，化作种种形相；继而以血流成瀑，浸润大地之表。

Word by Word

• वारीणि: waters
• वारीणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (Nom/Acc Pl); ‘waters’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• विविध-आकाराः: of various forms
• विविध-आकाराः: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (विविधाः आकाराः)

• दर्शयित्वा: having shown
• दर्शयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), परस्मैपदी; “having shown”

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: slowly/gradually)

• शनः: gradually
• शनः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: gently/gradually)

• तथा: likewise/thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चय (adverb: thus/likewise)

• शोणित-धाराभिः: with streams of blood
• शोणित-धाराभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोणित (प्रातिपदिक) + धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शोणितस्य धाराभिः)

• सिञ्चयित्वा: having drenched/sprinkled
• सिञ्चयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); “having sprinkled/drenched”

• मही-तलम्: the surface of the earth
• मही-तलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महेः तलम्)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the battle events to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts overwhelming, world-shaking manifestations—signals of the irresistible power of Rudra in the cosmic order, where even nature’s elements become instruments revealing the gravity of adharma and the inevitability of its restraint.

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

Such descriptions emphasize Saguna Shiva’s sovereign agency: the Lord who, for the protection of dharma, can manifest awe-inspiring forms and omens; devotion to the Linga anchors the mind in the compassionate Lord even amid fearful appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness in japa and worship—especially Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa—so the devotee remains inwardly calm when confronted with intense outer events.