Shloka 95

Devanagari script

सगणो गणकारश्न भूतवाहनसारथि: । भस्मशयो भस्मगोप्ता भस्मभूतस्तरुर्गण:,५३६ सगण:--प्रमथ आदि गणोंसे युक्त, ५३७ गणकार:--बाणासुर आदि भक्तोंको अपने गणमें सम्मिलित करनेवाले, ५३८ भूतवाहनसारथि:--्रिपुर-विनाशके लिये समस्त प्राणियोंके योगक्षेमका निर्वाह करनेवाले ब्रह्माजीको सारथि बनानेवाले, ५३९ भस्मशय:-- भस्मपर शयन करनेवाले, ५४० भस्मगोप्ता--भस्मद्वारा रक्षा करनेवाले, ५४१ भस्मभूतः --भस्मस्वरूप, ५४२ तरु:--कल्पवृक्षस्वरूप, ५४३ गण:--भूृंगिरिटि और नन्दिकेश्वर आदि पार्षदरूप

Transliteration

sagaṇo gaṇakāraś ca bhūtavāhanasārathiḥ | bhasmaśayo bhasmagoptā bhasmabhūtas tarur gaṇaḥ ||

Translation

Vāyu-deva said: He is attended by his hosts of attendants and also the maker and organizer of those hosts, drawing devotees into his own retinue. For the destruction of Tripura he even made Brahmā—who sustains the welfare of all beings—serve as his charioteer. He lies upon sacred ash, protects by means of ash, is himself of the nature of ash, and is like a wish-fulfilling tree; he is surrounded by attendants such as Bhṛṅgiriṭi and Nandikeśvara.

Word by Word

सगणःone who is accompanied by (his) attendants/gaṇas

गणकारःmaker/organizer of the gaṇas

भूतवाहनसारथिःcharioteer of the vehicle of beings (i.e., of Bhūtas)

भस्मशयःone who lies/sleeps on ashes

भस्मगोप्ताprotector by/with ashes

भस्मभूतःbecome ashes; ash-formed

तरुःtree

गणःtroop; attendant group

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vāyu (Vāyudeva)

Śiva (implied by epithets and gaṇas)

Gaṇas (Pramatha-gaṇa implied)

Brahmā (as charioteer in the Tripura context)

Tripura (implied by 'Tripura-destruction' gloss)

Bhṛṅgiriṭi

Nandikeśvara

Bhasma (sacred ash)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents Śiva as the ideal of austere purity (ash as symbol of renunciation) and as a powerful protector of devotees. Ethically, it links self-restraint and devotion with inner security and divine shelter, suggesting that true protection arises from purity, detachment, and alignment with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu is reciting a praise-list of Śiva’s names and attributes. The epithets highlight Śiva’s gaṇas (attendants), his capacity to incorporate devotees into his retinue, and a mythic allusion to the destruction of Tripura where Brahmā is described (in traditional interpretation) as serving as Śiva’s charioteer.