Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

पंचभिश्च कपालीशः षड्भिस्संदारको गणः । कोटिकोटिभिरेवेह कोटिकुण्डस्तथैव च

Transliteration

paṃcabhiśca kapālīśaḥ ṣaḍbhissaṃdārako gaṇaḥ | koṭikoṭibhireveha koṭikuṇḍastathaiva ca

Translation

Hier erschien Kapālīśa mit fünf Scharen, und der Gaṇa namens Saṃdāraka mit sechs. Ebenso war Koṭikuṇḍa hier zugegen, begleitet von Gefolgen aus Koṭis über Koṭis—unermesslich—und verkündete so die grenzenlose Majestät der Gaṇas des Herrn Śiva.

Word by Word

• पञ्चभिः: with five
• पञ्चभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

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

• कपालीशः: Kapālīśa (a gaṇa-name)
• कपालीशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपालीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कपाली + ईश (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: 'skull-bearing lord')

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• संदारकः: Saṃdāraka (a gaṇa-name)
• संदारकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सं + दारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गणः: a gaṇa/troop
• गणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कोटिकोटिभिः: by crores and crores
• कोटिकोटिभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—कोटि-कोटि (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व, 'crores upon crores')

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

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

• कोटिकुण्डः: Koṭikuṇḍa (a gaṇa-name)
• कोटिकुण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कोटीनां कुण्डः/कोटि-कुण्डः (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुष; proper name)

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/so')

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse stresses the immeasurable scale of Śiva’s gaṇas, pointing to Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose śakti and sovereignty are beyond counting; devotion matures when the mind recognizes this boundlessness and surrenders.

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

By naming Śiva’s attendants and their vast hosts, the text reinforces Saguna Śiva’s divine kingship and cosmic order; in Liṅga-worship, the devotee honors not only the Liṅga as Śiva’s presence but also His sacred retinue as expressions of His lordship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with japa—mentally offering salutations to Śiva and His attendants while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating humility and steadfast bhakti.