Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 61

राहोर्विमोचनानन्तरं जलन्धरस्य सैन्योद्योगः — Rahu’s Aftermath and Jalandhara’s Mobilization

Devanagari script

गणाश्शरशतैर्भिन्ना रुधिरासारवर्षिणः । वसंतकिंशुकाभासा न प्राजानन्हि किंचन

Transliteration

gaṇāśśaraśatairbhinnā rudhirāsāravarṣiṇaḥ | vasaṃtakiṃśukābhāsā na prājānanhi kiṃcana

Translation

Von Hunderten Pfeilen durchbohrt, ließen die Gaṇas Ströme von Blut hervorquellen. Ihre Leiber nahmen den Farbton der Frühlingsblüten der Kiṃśuka an; doch, in Śivas Sache versunken und furchtlos im Kampf, begriffen—und beachteten—sie nichts anderes.

Word by Word

• गणाः: the Gaṇas
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — Nominative plural

• शर-शतैः: by hundreds of arrows
• शर-शतैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; तत्पुरुष (शतानि शराणि)

• भिन्नाः: pierced / split
• भिन्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भिद्, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; विशेषण (गणाः)

• रुधिर-आसार-वर्षिणः: pouring showers of blood
• रुधिर-आसार-वर्षिणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक) + आसार (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुधिरस्य आसारः, तं वर्षन्ति)

• वसन्त-किंशुक-आभासाः: having the appearance of spring kimśuka blossoms (reddish)
• वसन्त-किंशुक-आभासाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वसन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + किंशुक (प्रातिपदिक) + आभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; तत्पुरुष (वसन्ते किंशुकस्य इव आभासः)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• प्राजानन्: they knew / perceived
• प्राजानन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन — Imperfect; परस्मैपद; रूपम्: प्र + अजानन् (augment loss in sandhi/metrical)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• किंचन: anything
• किंचन: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंचन (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — Accusative singular; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It portrays steadfast bhakti to Pati (Śiva): even when the body suffers, the devotee’s resolve does not break, showing detachment from pain and single-pointed dedication to Śiva’s purpose.

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

The gaṇas embody service to Saguna Śiva—His manifest lordship and command—where devotion expresses itself as loyal attendance (sevā). Such loyalty is the inner spirit behind external Linga worship: honoring Śiva with unwavering attention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Single-pointed japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a vow of steadiness—training the mind to remain with Śiva despite discomfort—supported by simple Śaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and focus.