Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

रत्नकंचुकगुप्तांगैश्चित्रवेत्रकपाणिभिः । अधिष्ठितमहाद्वारमप्रधृष्यैर्गुणेश्वरैः

Transliteration

ratnakaṃcukaguptāṃgaiścitravetrakapāṇibhiḥ | adhiṣṭhitamahādvāramapradhṛṣyairguṇeśvaraiḥ

Translation

وكان الباب العظيم تحت حراسة رؤساءٍ لا يُقهَرون من أتباع شيفا، سادة الغَنا (Gaṇeśvara). أعضاؤهم مستورة بدروعٍ مرصّعة بالجواهر، وفي أيديهم عصيٌّ عجيبةٌ ملوّنةٌ متنوّعة.

Word by Word

• ratna-kaṃcuka-gupta-aṃgaiḥ: by those whose limbs were covered with jeweled armor
• ratna-kaṃcuka-gupta-aṃgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṃcuka (प्रातिपदिक) + gupta (कृदन्त; √gup धातु, क्त) + aṃga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘gupta’ भूतकृदन्त (क्त) विशेषण; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ratna-kaṃcuka = ‘jeweled armor’; gupta-aṃga = ‘whose limbs are covered/protected’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• citra-vetraka-pāṇibhiḥ: by those holding ornate staffs
• citra-vetraka-pāṇibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + vetraka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (vetraka-pāṇi = ‘having canes/staffs in hand’; citra = ‘variegated/ornate’)

• adhiṣṭhita-mahā-dvāram: the great gate, occupied/guarded
• adhiṣṭhita-mahā-dvāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhi√sthā (धातु) → adhiṣṭhita (कृदन्त; क्त) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + dvāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘occupied/guarded’; समासः कर्मधारयः (mahā-dvāra = ‘great gate’)

• apradhṛṣyaiḥ: by the unassailable
• apradhṛṣyaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + pra√dhṛṣ (धातु) → pradhṛṣya (कृदन्त; यत्/ण्यत्-प्राय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण ‘unassailable/irresistible’

• guṇa-īśvaraiḥ: by the lords of the gaṇas (attendant chiefs)
• guṇa-īśvaraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (guṇānām īśvarāḥ = ‘lords of the gaṇas/attendants’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva’s realm as a sanctified space protected by His gaṇas, indicating that approach to the Divine (Pati) requires purity, devotion, and reverence; the “invincible guardians” symbolize dharma and divine protection that removes obstacles for true bhaktas.

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

The guarded “great gate” reflects Saguna Śiva’s manifest presence—His abode, attendants, and protective order—mirroring how the Liṅga is approached through prescribed worship, discipline, and respectful entry into sacred space.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Enter worship with protective remembrance: chant the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” visualize Śiva’s gaṇas safeguarding the threshold of the heart-temple, and maintain ritual purity (e.g., bhasma/tripuṇḍra where customary) before Liṅga-darśana.