Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

विष्टंभोऽष्टाभिर्वीरैः कोटिभिर्गणसप्तमः । सहस्रकोटिभिस्तात संनादः पिप्पलस्तथा

Transliteration

viṣṭaṃbho'ṣṭābhirvīraiḥ koṭibhirgaṇasaptamaḥ | sahasrakoṭibhistāta saṃnādaḥ pippalastathā

Translation

O dear one, the seventh host of Śiva’s Gaṇas is called Viṣṭambha, numbering eight koṭis of heroic attendants. Saṃnāda and Pippala too each command a thousand koṭis of Gaṇas.

Word by Word

• विष्टम्भः: Viṣṭambha (name)
• विष्टम्भः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्टम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गणनाम (proper name)

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• वीरैः: heroes/warriors
• वीरैः: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• कोटिभिः: by crores
• कोटिभिः: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘crores’

• गण-सप्तमः: the seventh (gaṇa-chief)
• गण-सप्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘गणेषु सप्तमः’ (seventh among the gaṇas)

• सहस्र-कोटिभिः: by a thousand crores
• सहस्र-कोटिभिः: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगुः (numeral compound) ‘thousand crores’

• तात: O dear/son
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• संनादः: Saṃnāda (name)
• संनादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संनाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गणनाम (proper name)

• पिप्पलः: Pippala (name)
• पिप्पलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गणनाम (proper name)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/सादृश्यवाचक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse magnifies Śiva’s cosmic sovereignty by describing the immeasurable hosts (Gaṇas) who execute his will. In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, it points to Pati (Śiva) as the supreme Lord whose divine order is upheld by countless powers, inspiring surrender, humility, and steadfast bhakti.

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

The Liṅga signifies Śiva as the supreme reality, while the Gaṇas represent his manifested, saguna governance of the universe. Remembering Śiva along with his Gaṇas supports devotional worship—seeing the Lord not as distant, but as actively protecting and guiding devotees through his divine attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Gaṇapati-śaraṇāgati and Śiva-smaraṇa: begin Śiva-pūjā with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offer bilva leaves, and mentally seek the protection of Śiva’s Gaṇas to remove obstacles and stabilize the mind in japa and dhyāna.