Shloka 6

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

चतुष्कोट्या विशाखश्च गणानां गणनायकः । पारिजातश्च नवभिः कोटिभिर्गणपुंगवः

Transliteration

catuṣkoṭyā viśākhaśca gaṇānāṃ gaṇanāyakaḥ | pārijātaśca navabhiḥ koṭibhirgaṇapuṃgavaḥ

Translation

Viśākha, together with four crores of attendants, is the commander of the gaṇas; and Pārijāta, together with nine crores, is a foremost leader among those gaṇas.

Word by Word

• चतुष्कोट्या: with four crores
• चतुष्कोट्या: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुः + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चतस्रः कोटयः)

• विशाखः: Viśākha
• विशाखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन

• गणनायकः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां नायकः)

• पारिजातः: Pārijāta
• पारिजातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारिजात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; नाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Parimāṇa (परिमाण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, तृतीया बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण

• कोटिभिः: crores
• कोटिभिः: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• गणपुंगवः: chief/bull among the gaṇas
• गणपुंगवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां पुंगवः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Viśākha
• Pārijāta
• Gaṇas
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the immeasurable expanse of Śiva’s divine retinue (Gaṇas) and their ordered leadership, implying that the Lord’s cosmos is upheld by disciplined, dharmic service to Pati (Śiva) rather than by egoic power.

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

The Gaṇas are attendants of Saguna Śiva—His manifest, approachable form. Remembering Śiva with His Gaṇas supports personal devotion (bhakti) to the Lord who is worshipped as the Liṅga, the visible sign of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Gaṇapati/Śiva-sevā bhāva in worship: begin Śiva-pūjā with pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), apply tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with reverence, and cultivate humility as a servant of Śiva’s divine order.