Shloka 8

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

अथ देवगणाः सर्वे युयुधुस्ते बलान्विताः । शक्रादयो लोकपाला मोहिताः शिवमायया

Transliteration

atha devagaṇāḥ sarve yuyudhuste balānvitāḥ | śakrādayo lokapālā mohitāḥ śivamāyayā

Translation

Dann traten alle Scharen der Götter, mit Kraft erfüllt, in den Kampf. Indra und die anderen Hüter der Welten wurden durch Śivas Māyā verblendet.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha/Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle ‘then/now’)

• देव-गणाः: the groups of gods
• देव-गणाः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां गणाः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of देवगणाः)

• युयुधुः: fought
• युयुधुः: Kriya/Action (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: they
• ते: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• बल-अन्विताः: endowed with strength
• बल-अन्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अन्वि/√इ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (बलेन अन्विताः = endowed with strength)

• शक्र-आदयः: Indra and others
• शक्र-आदयः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शक्रः आदिः येषाम् = Indra and others)

• लोक-पालाः: guardians of the worlds
• लोक-पालाः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य पालाः)

• मोहिताः: deluded
• मोहिताः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) बहुवचन; ‘deluded’

• शिव-मायया: by Śiva’s māyā
• शिव-मायया: Karana/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd) एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य माया)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Tirodhāna (veiling) enacted as Śiva-māyā deludes even lokapālas

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Lokapalas
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who governs even the devas through māyā. When the mind is veiled by māyā, even powerful beings act in confusion; liberation requires turning to Śiva’s grace and right discernment.

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

The verse underscores that Saguna Śiva, worshipped as the Liṅga and the Lord of the worlds, is not merely one deity among others—He is the master of cosmic powers. Liṅga-worship cultivates surrender to Śiva beyond the shifting influences of māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and inner vigilance, so the seeker is not carried away by delusion and agitation like the battle-minded devas.