Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

चतुःषष्ट्या विशाखश्च नवभिः पारियात्रिकः । षड्भिस्सर्वाङ्गको वीरस्तथैव विकृताननः

Transliteration

catuḥṣaṣṭyā viśākhaśca navabhiḥ pāriyātrikaḥ | ṣaḍbhissarvāṅgako vīrastathaiva vikṛtānanaḥ

Translation

Viśākha came with sixty-four attendants; Pāriyātrika with nine. Likewise the heroic Sarvāṅgaka came with six, and so too did Vikṛtānana with six.

Word by Word

• चतुःषष्ट्या: with sixty-four
• चतुःषष्ट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular); द्विगु-समासः (चतुः + षष्टि = 64)

• विशाखः: Viśākha
• विशाखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular)

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

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural); संख्यावाचक

• पारियात्रिकः: Pāriyātrika
• पारियात्रिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारियात्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular)

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural); संख्यावाचक

• सर्वाङ्गकः: Sarvāṅgaka
• सर्वाङ्गकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); बहुव्रीहिः (सर्वाणि अङ्गानि यस्य सः / सर्वाङ्गयुक्तः)

• वीरः: hero/warrior
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/so)

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

• विकृताननः: Vikṛtānana (one with a distorted face)
• विकृताननः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृत + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (Nominative singular); बहुव्रीहिः (विकृतम् आननं यस्य सः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s gaṇas as an ordered, conscious retinue—signifying that Saguna Śiva’s cosmic governance operates through disciplined hosts, inspiring devotees to cultivate steadfastness and reverence toward Śiva’s divine order.

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

By naming and numbering Śiva’s attendants, the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s manifest sovereignty surrounding the Liṅga—devotion to the Liṅga is devotion to Śiva together with His śakti, powers, and gaṇas that uphold dharma and protect the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa while doing japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), coupled with respectful worship—Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa—seeing oneself as protected within Śiva’s sacred assembly.