Shloka 17

वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

अभ्ययाच्छंकुकर्णश्च दशकोट्या गणेश्वरः । दशभिः केकराक्षश्च विकृतो ष्टाभिरेव

Transliteration

abhyayācchaṃkukarṇaśca daśakoṭyā gaṇeśvaraḥ | daśabhiḥ kekarākṣaśca vikṛto ṣṭābhireva

Translation

Then the Gaṇa-lord Śaṅkukarṇa advanced, attended by ten koṭis (crores). Kekarākṣa came with ten koṭis, and Vikṛta came alone with eight koṭis.

Word by Word

• अभ्ययात्: approached/came
• अभ्ययात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-या (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (he approached/came)

• शंकुकर्णः: Śaṅkukarṇa (one with cone-like ears)
• शंकुकर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकु + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); बहुव्रीहिः (शंकुवत् कर्णौ यस्य सः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction: and)

• दशकोट्या: with ten crores
• दशकोट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular); द्विगु-समासः (दश कोटयः = ten crores)

• गणेश्वरः: lord of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानाम् ईश्वरः)

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural); संख्यावाचक

• केकराक्षः: Kekarākṣa
• केकराक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकर + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); बहुव्रीहिः (केकरौ अक्षिणी यस्य सः = one with squinting/odd eyes)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• विकृतः: Vikṛta (the deformed/strange one)
• विकृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि-√कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); भूतकृदन्त (past participle used as name/epithet)

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural); संख्यावाचक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: indeed/just)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It magnifies Śiva’s sovereignty by showing the immeasurable hosts (gaṇas) that move by his will—reminding the devotee that the Lord (Pati) is supported by limitless divine powers, and that surrender to Śiva is surrender to the highest order governing the cosmos.

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

The gaṇas are features of Saguna Śiva—his manifest lordship and retinue. In Linga-worship, devotees honor Śiva as the supreme center while also acknowledging his śaktis and attendants as expressions of his command and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with Śiva-bhakti: begin worship with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a brief prayer for protection to Śiva and his gaṇas, cultivating humility before the Lord’s vast, orderly power.