Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । बाण शंकरसद्भक्त मानुतापं कुरुष्व भोः । भक्तानुकंपी शंभुर्वै भक्तवत्सलनामधृक्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | bāṇa śaṃkarasadbhakta mānutāpaṃ kuruṣva bhoḥ | bhaktānukaṃpī śaṃbhurvai bhaktavatsalanāmadhṛk

Translation

难提湿伐罗说道：“婆那啊，你是商羯罗的真诚奉者，莫作凡人之悲。商婆怜悯诸奉者，故名‘Bhaktavatsala’——护念敬拜者的慈爱守护者。”

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• बाण: O Bāṇa
• बाण: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• शंकर-सत्-भक्त: O true devotee of Śaṅkara
• शंकर-सत्-भक्त: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (true devotee of Śaṅkara)

• मानु-तापम्: remorse/anguish (of pride)
• मानु-तापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानु (प्रातिपदिक) + ताप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; (पाठे ‘मानुतापं’—अर्थतः ‘मान-अनुतापम्’/‘मान-तापम्’ इति; remorse/pride-born anguish)

• कुरुष्व: do/undertake
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भोः: O!
• भोः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भोः (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• भक्त-अनुकम्पी: compassionate to devotees
• भक्त-अनुकम्पी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुकम्पिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (compassionate towards devotees)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय/निपात (indeed, surely)

• भक्त-वत्सल-नाम-धृक्: bearing the name ‘devotee-loving’
• भक्त-वत्सल-नाम-धृक्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘धृक्’ = क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (one who bears); समासः: (भक्तवत्सल) कर्मधारय + (नाम) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष + धृक् (bearer of the name)

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Bana

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that a Śiva-bhakta should rise above merely human despair, remembering Śiva’s essential nature as bhaktānukampī—graceful and protective toward devotees. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, surrender and remembrance of the Lord’s grace loosen pāśa (bondage) created by sorrow and attachment.

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

By calling Śiva ‘Bhaktavatsala’, the verse emphasizes accessible Saguna worship—approaching Śiva with devotion, prayer, and trust. Linga-worship embodies this nearness: the devotee offers pūjā and receives anugraha (grace), which steadies the mind beyond grief.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is devotional remembrance during distress—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Śiva-pūjā with a calm mind. The verse primarily recommends inner composure grounded in bhakti rather than a specific external rite.