Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

ततो नृत्यं महत्कृत्वा भगवान्भक्तवत्सलः । उवाच बाणं संहृष्टो नृत्य गीतप्रियो हरः

Transliteration

tato nṛtyaṃ mahatkṛtvā bhagavānbhaktavatsalaḥ | uvāca bāṇaṃ saṃhṛṣṭo nṛtya gītapriyo haraḥ

Translation

随后，慈爱眷顾 भक्त众的圣尊行起宏伟之舞。喜悦的诃罗，爱舞亦爱圣歌，便对班那开口说道。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/हेतु (adverb: then/thereupon)

• नृत्यम्: dance
• नृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; विशेषणम् (agreeing with नृत्यम्)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund); “having done”

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• भक्त-वत्सलः: affectionate to devotees
• भक्त-वत्सलः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भक्तेषु वत्सलः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बाणम्: to Bāṇa (Bāṇāsura)
• बाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; (व्यक्ति-नाम)

• संहृष्टः: delighted
• संहृष्टः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-√हृष् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; “delighted”

• नृत्य: dance
• नृत्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; समासे पूर्वपद (in compound)

• गीत-प्रियः: fond of song
• गीत-प्रियः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (गीते प्रियः)

• नृत्य-गीत-प्रियः: fond of dance and song
• नृत्य-गीत-प्रियः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद (नृत्यं च गीतं च) + तत्पुरुष (तयोः प्रियः)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; शिवनाम

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta Gosvāmin) describing Lord Śiva’s action; the verse also introduces Śiva speaking to Bāṇa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bana

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as bhaktavatsala—His grace is drawn by devotion. The Lord’s dance signifies conscious divine play (līlā) that uplifts the devotee and dissolves fear, reminding that the Supreme responds with compassion even amid conflict.

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva—Hara who dances, rejoices, and speaks. In Linga-worship, devotees honor the same Lord through sound (mantra, stotra) and rhythm (kīrtana), treating music and devotion as direct offerings to the Linga’s living presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer devotional singing (kīrtana/stotra) and mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as worship. Keeping a steady rhythm of breath and mantra is a meditative way to align with Śiva’s nṛtya (cosmic harmony).