Shloka 53

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

यान्तं तदानीं तु शिलादपुत्रम् आरुह्य नागेन्द्रवृषाश्ववर्यान् देवास्तदानीं गणपाश् च सर्वे गणा ययुः स्वायुधचिह्नहस्ताः

Transliteration

yāntaṃ tadānīṃ tu śilādaputram āruhya nāgendravṛṣāśvavaryān devāstadānīṃ gaṇapāś ca sarve gaṇā yayuḥ svāyudhacihnahastāḥ

Translation

Als darauf der Sohn Śilādas (der erhabene Nandin) aufbrach, zogen auch die Devas und alle Gaṇas zur selben Zeit aus—reitend auf den besten Schlangenkönigen, Stieren und Pferden—und ein jeder trug in der Hand die Zeichen seiner eigenen Waffen.

Word by Word

• यान्तम्: as (he) was going/setting forth

• तदानीम्: at that time

• तु: indeed

• शिलादपुत्रम्: the son of Śilāda (Nandin)

• आरुह्य: having mounted

• नागेन्द्र: king of serpents/serpent-lord

• वृष: bull

• अश्व: horse

• वर्यान्: the best/excellent ones

• देवाः: the Devas

• तदानीम्: at that time

• गणपाः: leaders of the Gaṇas

• च: and

• सर्वे: all

• गणाः: the Gaṇas/attendant hosts

• ययुः: went/proceeded

• स्वायुध: their own weapons

• चिह्न: marks/insignia/emblems

• हस्ताः: having (in their) hands

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shilada
• Nandin
• Devas
• Ganas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It highlights the ordered movement of Śiva’s divine ecosystem—Devas and Gaṇas—around Śiva’s foremost attendant (Nandin). In Linga worship, honoring Nandin and the Gaṇa-host signifies approaching Pati (Śiva) through disciplined devotion and rightful alignment of one’s powers (indriyas) under dharma.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is implied through sovereignty and cohesion: the Devas and Gaṇas move as a unified retinue, bearing weapon-insignia as expressions of delegated śakti. This reflects Pati as the supreme regulator who harmonizes diverse forces without bondage (pāśa), while the hosts remain instruments of cosmic order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Gaṇa-śaraṇa (seeking refuge in Śiva’s retinue) and Nandin-upāsanā as supportive limbs of Śaiva practice—cultivating discipline, protection of the sādhaka, and readiness for Pāśupata-oriented worship where the self (paśu) turns from bonds (pāśa) toward the Lord (pati).