Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

सन्नाहश्शतकोट्या च कोट्या च कुमुदो गणः । अमोघः कोकिलश्चैव कोटिकोट्या गणाधिपः

Transliteration

sannāhaśśatakoṭyā ca koṭyā ca kumudo gaṇaḥ | amoghaḥ kokilaścaiva koṭikoṭyā gaṇādhipaḥ

Translation

Sannāha came with a hundred crores, and the gaṇa Kumuda with one crore. Amogha and Kokila also arrived—each a lord of gaṇas—accompanied by crores upon crores of attendants.

Word by Word

• सन्नाहः: Sannāha (name)
• सन्नाहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्नाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• शत-कोट्या: with a hundred crores (of troops)
• शत-कोट्या: Sahakāraka/Hetu (सहकारक/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-द्विगु: 'शतं कोटयः' = 'a hundred crores' (by/with a hundred crores)

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

• कोट्या: with a crore
• कोट्या: Sahakāraka/Hetu (सहकारक/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

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

• कुमुदः: Kumuda (name)
• कुमुदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• गणः: a troop; attendant
• गणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to proper name

• अमोघः: Amogha (name)
• अमोघः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• कोकिलः: Kokila (name)
• कोकिलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अवधारण

• कोटि-कोट्या: with crores upon crores
• कोटि-कोट्या: Sahakāraka/Hetu (सहकारक/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'कोटिः कोटयः' = 'ten million crores' (by/with crores upon crores)

• गण-अधिपः: lord of the gaṇas
• गण-अधिपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'गणानाम् अधिपः'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a ‘gaṇa-catalogue’ amplifying Śiva’s cosmic sovereignty by enumerating chiefs and their innumerable retinues.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the immeasurable, orderly majesty of Bhagavān Śiva’s retinue: countless gaṇas gather effortlessly around Saguna Śiva, showing that divine power (śakti) and protection for devotees are inexhaustible.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship by portraying Śiva’s personal sovereignty—His gaṇas are not symbolic abstractions but living divine attendants who uphold His līlā and protect dharma, reinforcing faith in approaching Śiva through form (liṅga/arcana) with devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with japa: worship Śiva-liṅga while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mentally offering service like a gaṇa—supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva markers of dedication.