Shloka 50

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

शाकिन्यो यातुधानाश्च वेताला ब्रह्मराक्षसाः । भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च तथान्ये प्रमथादयः

Transliteration

śākinyo yātudhānāśca vetālā brahmarākṣasāḥ | bhūtapretapiśācāśca tathānye pramathādayaḥ

Translation

Śākinīs, yātudhānas, vetālas, brahmarākṣasas, and also bhūtas, pretas, and piśācas—along with other hosts such as the Pramathas—are the various spirit-beings and fierce attendants that move in Śiva’s sphere.

Word by Word

• शाकिन्यः: śākinīs (female spirits)
• शाकिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śākinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• यातुधानाः: demons (yātudhānas)
• यातुधानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yātudhāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• वेतालाः: vetālas (ghouls)
• वेतालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vetāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मराक्षसाः: brahma-rākṣasas
• ब्रह्मराक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma + rākṣasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः (ब्रह्म-राक्षसः = ब्राह्मणत्वेन राक्षसः/ब्राह्मणराक्षसः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भूत: ghosts
• भूत: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार-निर्देशे प्रथमपदम्

• प्रेत: departed spirits
• प्रेत: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: preta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार-निर्देशे मध्यपदम्

• पिशाचाः: piśācas (goblins)
• पिशाचाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: piśāca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक (also/likewise)

• अन्ये: other
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘प्रमथादयः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रमथादयः: Pramathas and others
• प्रमथादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramatha + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रमथाः आदयः येषाम्/प्रमथ-आदि-गणः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Pramathas

FAQs

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

It catalogues fearsome classes of beings to emphasize Shiva’s all-encompassing lordship (Pati) over every realm—pure and impure—so the devotee takes refuge in Shiva rather than fearing hostile forces.

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

In Saguna worship, Shiva is revered as the master of the gaṇas and the controller of all beings; devotion to the Liṅga signifies surrender to that supreme governance, transforming fear into śaraṇāgati (refuge).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa is traditionally taken as a protective, purifying discipline that steadies the mind against भय (fear) and tamasic disturbances.