Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

देवान्यक्षान् साध्यगणान् गुह्यकान् चारणानपि । शूलघातैश्च सर्वे गणा वेगात् प्रजघ्निरे

Transliteration

devānyakṣān sādhyagaṇān guhyakān cāraṇānapi | śūlaghātaiśca sarve gaṇā vegāt prajaghnire

Translation

Daraufhin schlugen alle Gaṇas Śivas mit ihren Dreizacken zu und trafen in rasender Eile die Devas, die Yakṣas, die Scharen der Sādhyas, die Guhyakas und auch die Cāraṇas.

Word by Word

• देवान्: gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यक्षान्: yakṣas
• यक्षान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• साध्यगणान्: hosts of Sādhyas
• साध्यगणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साध्य-गण (प्रातिपदिक; साध्य + गण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘साध्यानां गणाः’)

• गुह्यकान्: guhyakas
• गुह्यकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• आरणान्: āraṇas / (variant: cāraṇas)
• आरणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पाठान्तर-संभावना: ‘चारणान्’ (celestial bards)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• शूलघातैः: by blows of the trident
• शूलघातैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल-घात (प्रातिपदिक; शूल + घात)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; तृतीया-करण (‘by trident-blows’), षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘शूलस्य घातः’)

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

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

• गणाः: the gaṇas (troops)
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वेगात्: from/with speed
• वेगात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे ‘out of/with speed’

• प्रजघ्निरे: struck down
• प्रजघ्निरे: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘they struck down’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Yakshas
• Sadhyas
• Guhyakas
• Charanas
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows that when adharmic opposition arises—even among celestial ranks—Śiva’s śakti manifests through the Gaṇas to restore order, humbling pride and re-establishing reverence for Pati (Śiva) as the supreme Lord.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s protective sovereignty: His attendants act as instruments of His will. In Liṅga worship, devotees approach the same Lord as the compassionate ruler whose power subdues ego and safeguards dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of surrender—replacing pride with devotion and inner discipline.