Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)

Devanagari script

सन्नाहश्च शतेनैव कुमुदः कोटिभिस्तथा । अमोघः कोकिलश्चैव कोटिकोट्या सुमंत्रकः

Transliteration

sannāhaśca śatenaiva kumudaḥ koṭibhistathā | amoghaḥ kokilaścaiva koṭikoṭyā sumaṃtrakaḥ

Translation

Sannāha war in hundertfacher Zahl zugegen; Kumuda ebenso in Kroren. Auch Amogha und Kokila waren da; und Sumantraka in Kroren über Kroren—so wurden Śivas mächtige Gefährten aufgezählt.

Word by Word

• सन्नाहः: Sannāha (name)
• सन्नाहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्नाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• शतेन: by/with a hundred
• शतेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• कुमुदः: Kumuda (name)
• कुमुदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कोटिभिः: by/with crores
• कोटिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• तथा: likewise/so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

• अमोघः: Amogha (name)
• अमोघः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कोकिलः: Kokila (name)
• कोकिलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• कोटि-कोट्या: by crores upon crores
• कोटि-कोट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective) अर्थे ‘कोटिकोट्या’ = ‘कोटिकोटिभिः’ इव (by many crores)

• सुमंत्रकः: Sumantraka (name; ‘good counsellor’)
• सुमंत्रकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + मंत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु- ‘good’ + मंत्रक ‘counsellor/one with mantra’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic-cosmic census of Śiva’s attendants, implying inexhaustible śakti-instruments for cosmic governance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the immeasurable, cosmic majesty of Lord Śiva (Pati): even His attendants (gaṇas) are beyond counting. In Śaiva Siddhānta, this supports the truth that the Lord’s śakti and retinue are limitless, inspiring humility and exclusive refuge in Śiva.

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

By portraying Śiva with vast hosts and named attendants, the text highlights Saguna Śiva—worshipful with attributes, forms, and divine associates. Such descriptions steady the devotee’s mind for Linga-upāsanā, where the infinite Nirguna is approached through a sacred, graspable form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-pati Śiva-bhakti: begin worship with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offer bilva leaves to the Liṅga, and mentally bow to Śiva’s attendants as guardians of dharma—cultivating reverence and protection in sādhanā.