Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

सर्वे सहस्रहस्तास्ते सहस्रायुधपाणयः । रुद्रस्यानुचरास्सर्वे सर्वे रुद्रसमप्रभाः

Transliteration

sarve sahasrahastāste sahasrāyudhapāṇayaḥ | rudrasyānucarāssarve sarve rudrasamaprabhāḥ

Translation

Sie alle besaßen tausend Hände, und in ihren Händen waren tausend Waffen. Alle waren Gefolgsleute und Diener Rudras, und alle leuchteten in einem Glanz, der dem Rudras selbst gleichkam.

Word by Word

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sahasra-hastāḥ: having a thousand hands
• sahasra-hastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘those whose hands are a thousand’

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sahasra-āyudha-pāṇayaḥ: whose hands bear a thousand weapons
• sahasra-āyudha-pāṇayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahasra + āyudha + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘those whose hands hold a thousand weapons’

• rudrasya: of Rudra
• rudrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• anucarāḥ: attendants/followers
• anucarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anucara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying anucarāḥ

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• rudra-sama-prabhāḥ: having radiance equal to Rudra
• rudra-sama-prabhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rudra + sama + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); bahuvrīhi ‘those whose radiance is equal to Rudra’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Rudra’s gaṇas as extensions of Rudra’s sovereign power—many-armed and weapon-bearing—symbolizing the Lord’s all-pervading capacity to protect dharma and remove obstacles for devotees under Pati’s (Shiva’s) command.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva (Rudra) as the manifest Lord with divine attributes and retinue; Linga-worship leads the devotee to this Lord who governs and protects through His gaṇas, while ultimately pointing beyond forms to Shiva’s supreme mastery as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective remembrance of Rudra through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva as the refuge (Pati), invoking His guardianship as symbolized by the powerful gaṇas.