Shloka 17

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

महाबलश्च नवभिर्मधुपिंगश्च कोकिलः । नीलो नवत्या कोटीनां पूर्णभद्रस्तथैव च

Transliteration

mahābalaśca navabhirmadhupiṃgaśca kokilaḥ | nīlo navatyā koṭīnāṃ pūrṇabhadrastathaiva ca

Translation

Mahābala is with nine crores; Madhupiṅga and Kokila are also named. Nīla is with ninety crores; and Pūrṇabhadra likewise is present.

Word by Word

• महाबलः: Mahābala (name; great-strong)
• महाबलः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महच्च तत् बलम्/महाबलः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

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

• नवभिः: with nine (by nine)
• नवभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्गे (सामान्यतः), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• मधुपिङ्गः: Madhupiṅga (name; honey-colored/tawny)
• मधुपिङ्गः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + पिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (मधुवर्णः पिङ्गः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

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

• कोकिलः: Kokila (name)
• कोकिलः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• नीलः: Nīla (name)
• नीलः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• नवत्या: with ninety
• नवत्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine instrumental singular

• कोटीनाम्: of crores
• कोटीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine genitive plural

• पूर्णभद्रः: Pūrṇabhadra (name)
• पूर्णभद्रः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (पूर्णं भद्रं यस्य/पूर्णभद्रः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थे (likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the immeasurable, orderly expanse of Lord Shiva’s divine retinue—signifying Saguna Shiva’s sovereign governance of the cosmos, where even countless hosts function in harmony under Pati (Shiva).

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

By naming and numbering Shiva’s attendants, the text highlights Shiva’s manifest (Saguna) majesty. Linga-worship honors the same Lord whose visible cosmic administration includes such gaṇas, while the Linga also points beyond form to the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa (recollection of Shiva’s attendants) alongside Panchakshara japa—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—before Linga-pūjā, cultivating humility and devotion within Shiva’s protective order.