Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

आवेशनस्तथाष्टाभिरष्टाभिश्चंद्रतापनः । महावेशः सहस्रेण कोटिना गणपो वृतः

Transliteration

āveśanastathāṣṭābhiraṣṭābhiścaṃdratāpanaḥ | mahāveśaḥ sahasreṇa koṭinā gaṇapo vṛtaḥ

Translation

Āveśana came with eight attendant hosts, and Candratāpana with another eight; and Mahāveśa, leader of the Gaṇas, was encircled by a thousand koṭis. Thus is revealed the immeasurable, awe-inspiring majesty of Śiva’s Gaṇa-retinue that serves the Lord’s saguna sovereignty.

Word by Word

• आवेशनः: Āveśana (name)
• आवेशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गणनाम (proper name)

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

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

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

• चन्द्र-तापनः: Candra-tāpana (name)
• चन्द्र-तापनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र + तापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘चन्द्रं तापयति’/‘चन्द्रस्य तापनः’ (name)

• महावेशः: Mahāveśa (name)
• महावेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् आवेशः/वेशः’ (name)

• सहस्रेण: by a thousand
• सहस्रेण: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by a thousand’

• कोटिना: by a crore
• कोटिना: Sahakari/Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by a crore’

• गणपः: the gaṇa-chief
• गणपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘leader of gaṇas’

• वृतः: was surrounded
• वृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि ‘surrounded/attended’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse magnifies the immeasurable scale of Śiva’s Gaṇas, indicating that the Lord (Pati) is served by countless divine powers. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it inspires humility in the bound soul (paśu) and confidence that divine grace operates through vast agencies to protect dharma and devotees.

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

The Gaṇas belong to Śiva’s saguna manifestation—His lordly, personal sovereignty that devotees approach through worship (including Liṅga-pūjā). Remembering Śiva’s attendants reinforces that Liṅga worship is not abstract alone; it is communion with the living Lord who commands and blesses through His divine retinue.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to chant the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing Śiva’s protective presence and His Gaṇas as guardians of the devotee’s path; this supports bhakti and fearlessness, especially during Mahāśivarātri vrata and daily Liṅga-pūjā.