Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्

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Devanagari script

गोकर्णास्यं दधिमुखं ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमम् । लक्षं च क्षेत्रपालानां भूतानां च त्रिलक्षकम्

Transliteration

gokarṇāsyaṃ dadhimukhaṃ jvaladagniśikhopamam | lakṣaṃ ca kṣetrapālānāṃ bhūtānāṃ ca trilakṣakam

Translation

Er hatte das Antlitz Gokarṇas und die Züge Dadhimukhas, strahlend wie der Kamm einer lodernden Feuerflamme. Bei ihm waren hunderttausend Schutzgottheiten des heiligen Bezirks und dreihunderttausend Bhūtas, dienende Geister.

Word by Word

• गोकर्णास्यम्: one with a cow-ear-like face/mouth
• गोकर्णास्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गो + कर्ण + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘गो-कर्णवत् आस्यम् यस्य’)

• दधिमुखम्: one with a curd-like (white) face
• दधिमुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दधि + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘दधिवत् मुखं यस्य’)

• ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमम्: like a blazing fire-flame
• ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलत् (कृदन्त, शतृ) + अग्नि + शिखा + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमित-तत्पुरुषः (‘ज्वलदग्निशिखायाः उपमः’ = like a blazing flame of fire)

• लक्षम्: a lakh (100,000)
• लक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (one hundred thousand)

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

• क्षेत्रपालानाम्: of the guardians of the field/region
• क्षेत्रपालानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘क्षेत्रस्य पालाः’)

• भूतानाम्: of beings/spirits
• भूतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

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

• त्रिलक्षकम्: three lakhs (300,000)
• त्रिलक्षकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (‘त्रीणि लक्षाणि’ = three lakhs)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; the verse emphasizes kṣetra-guardians (kṣetrapālas) and bhūtas in vast numbers, with fiery radiance—typical of Bhairava-protective theology around sacred spaces.

Significance: Connects to temple practice: kṣetrapāla/bhairava guardianship of the kṣetra; remembrance/propitiation is believed to secure safe pilgrimage, remove fear, and protect vows.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: protective

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kṣetrapālas
• Bhūtas
• Gokarṇa
• Dadhimukha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s living, ordered cosmos of attendants—kṣetrapālas (guardians of sacred space) and bhūtas (gaṇas)—showing that sacred places and sādhana are protected when approached with bhakti and reverence to Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

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

By describing Śiva’s formidable retinue and radiant presence, the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva—approachable through liṅga-pūjā—whose manifested power includes guardianship of kṣetras and the regulation of unseen forces that surround worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain kṣetra-śuddhi (purity of the worship space), offer respectful salutations to kṣetrapālas before liṅga-pūjā, and steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a protective, centering practice.