Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

शंखकर्णः कोटिगणैर्युतः परविमर्दकः । दशभिः केकराक्षश्च विकृतोऽष्टाभिरेव च

Transliteration

śaṃkhakarṇaḥ koṭigaṇairyutaḥ paravimardakaḥ | daśabhiḥ kekarākṣaśca vikṛto'ṣṭābhireva ca

Translation

Śaṅkhakarṇa, begleitet von Kroren von Gaṇas, ein Zermalmer der feindlichen Heere; und Kekarākṣa mit zehn Abteilungen, und Vikṛta ebenso mit acht—so rückten diese Befehlshaber in die Schlacht vor.

Word by Word

• शंख-कर्णः: Śaṅkhakarṇa (conch-eared one)
• शंख-कर्णः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः — one whose ears are (like) conches

• कोटि-गणैः: with crores of troops
• कोटि-गणैः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — with groups of crores

• युतः: accompanied
• युतः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — joined/attended

• पर-विमर्दकः: crusher of foes
• पर-विमर्दकः: प्रत्ययार्थ-सम्बन्ध (Predicate/उपाधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + विमर्दक (प्रातिपदिक; मृद् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — crusher of enemies/others

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन — with ten

• केकर-अक्षः: Kekarākṣa (kekara-eyed one)
• केकर-अक्षः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकर (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः — one whose eyes are ‘kekara’ (a kind/shape)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction) — and

• विकृतः: Vikṛta
• विकृतः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + कृ (धातु) → विकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — deformed/changed (as a name)

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन — with eight

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle of emphasis) — indeed/just

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction) — and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankhakarna
• Kekaraksha
• Vikrita
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights the ordered might of Śiva’s gaṇas—divine attendants who embody disciplined power used to restore dharma, showing that Śiva’s protection operates through countless supportive forces under righteous command.

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

The verse points to Saguna Śiva as the Lord of gaṇas (Gaṇeśvara/Gaṇapati’s Lord), whose manifest sovereignty includes protecting devotees and dharma through his attendants—an aspect often contemplated while worshipping the Liṅga as the living presence of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-pati-bhāva and śaraṇāgati: meditate on Śiva as the supreme protector and repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to invoke inner steadiness and courage amid conflict.