Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)

Devanagari script

पंचभिश्च कपाली हि षड्भिः सन्दारकश्शुभः । कोटिकोटिभिरेवेह कण्डुकः कुण्डकस्तथा

Transliteration

paṃcabhiśca kapālī hi ṣaḍbhiḥ sandārakaśśubhaḥ | koṭikoṭibhireveha kaṇḍukaḥ kuṇḍakastathā

Translation

بخمسةِ (كوتي) يكونُ كَبَالِي حقًّا؛ وبستةِ (كوتي) يكونُ سَنْدارَكَ المبارك. وههنا أيضًا، كوتي فوق كوتي، يوجدُ كَنْدُوكَ وكُنْدَكَ.

Word by Word

• पञ्चभिः: with five (by five)
• पञ्चभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कपाली: Kapālī (the skull-bearer)
• कपाली: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम/उपाधि

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• षड्भिः: with six (by six)
• षड्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्/षड् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• सन्दारकः: Sandāraka (name)
• सन्दारकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्दारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• शुभः: auspicious
• शुभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कोटि-कोटिभिः: with crores upon crores
• कोटि-कोटिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (iterative/cumulative sense: ‘crores upon crores’)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (restrictive/emphatic particle)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• कण्डुकः: Kaṇḍuka (name)
• कण्डुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्डुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• कुण्डकः: Kuṇḍaka (name)
• कुण्डकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: manifestation of fierce gaṇa-orders (kapālī-type) within the creative unfolding

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Shiva’s immeasurable sovereignty: even his attendants/forms are counted in vast multitudes, pointing to the infinite power (ananta-śakti) of Pati, the Lord who commands countless divine forces.

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

By describing named forms and hosts connected to Rudra, the verse supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva with attributes—where the devotee contemplates Shiva’s manifested power and reveres his presence through symbols like the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with japa: mentally honor Shiva’s vast retinue while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating humility and surrender to Shiva’s all-encompassing lordship.