Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4

अध्याय ३८ — काली-शंखचूड-युद्धे अस्त्रप्रयोगः

Kālī and Śaṅkhacūḍa: Mantra-Weapons and Surrender in Battle

Devanagari script

महान् कोलाहलो जातो गणदेवदले तदा । जहृषुर्बहुगर्जंतस्सर्वे सुरगणादयः

Transliteration

mahān kolāhalo jāto gaṇadevadale tadā | jahṛṣurbahugarjaṃtassarve suragaṇādayaḥ

Translation

حينئذٍ قامَ ضجيجٌ عظيمٌ في جندِ الغَنا (Gaṇa) وفي جموعِ الآلهة؛ وراحتْ كلُّ فرقِ الدِّيفات تزأرُ مرارًا بصوتٍ جهير، وقد امتلأتْ ابتهاجًا ونشوةً.

Word by Word

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महान्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• कोलाहलः: uproar, tumult
• कोलाहलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोलाहल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जातः: arose, occurred
• जातः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + जात (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः—‘उत्पन्नः’

• गण-देव-दले: in the troop/army of the gaṇa-devas
• गण-देव-दले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां देवानां दलम्)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• जहृषुः: rejoiced
• जहृषुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• बहु-गर्जन्तः: roaring loudly/much
• बहु-गर्जन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्ज् (धातु) + गर्जन्त् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण—‘बहु’ इति उपपदेन कर्मधारयः

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सुर-गण-आदयः: the gods’ hosts and others
• सुर-गण-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सुरगणाः आदयः येषाम्’ (group headed by the gods)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, as is typical for the Purāṇic frame)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Ganas
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the awakened collective energy of Shiva’s attendants (Gaṇas) and the devas—symbolizing how devotion to Pati (Shiva) transforms fear into courageous, joy-filled participation in dharmic action.

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

The Gaṇas represent Saguna Shiva’s living retinue—His manifest power in the world. Remembering such scenes in Purāṇic narration strengthens bhakti toward the Linga as the accessible form of the same supreme Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady breath, cultivating fearless devotion; optionally accompanied by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva markers of inner resolve.