Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

वीरभद्रसमेता येगणाश्शतसहस्रशः । पार्षदाः कालकालस्य सर्वे रुद्रस्वरूपिणः

Transliteration

vīrabhadrasametā yegaṇāśśatasahasraśaḥ | pārṣadāḥ kālakālasya sarve rudrasvarūpiṇaḥ

Translation

Along with Vīrabhadra, the Gaṇas—numbering in hundreds of thousands—stood forth: all of them attendants of the Slayer of Time (Śiva), each bearing the very form and power of Rudra.

Word by Word

• वीरभद्रसमेताः: accompanied by Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रसमेताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीरभद्र + समेत (सम्-इ √इ/ए?; 'समेत' कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (वीरभद्रेण समेताः = accompanied by Vīrabhadra); 'समेत' = भूतकृदन्त (past participle)

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural); सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• गणाः: troops/attendants
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural)

• शतसहस्रशः: by hundreds of thousands
• शतसहस्रशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शत + सहस्र + शस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संख्यावाचक-समूहवाचक (in hundreds and thousands; distributive/collective)

• पार्षदाः: attendants/retainers
• पार्षदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural)

• कालकालस्य: of Kālakāla (Death of Death / Time itself)
• कालकालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम् (Genitive singular); कर्मधारयः (काल एव कालः = Time who is Death/Destroyer)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural); विशेषणम्

• रुद्रस्वरूपिणः: having Rudra’s form
• रुद्रस्वरूपिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र + स्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य स्वरूपं येषां ते)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Mahākāla as the ‘kāla-kāla’ (destroyer of Time) is thematically invoked; the verse’s epithet aligns with Ujjayinī’s Mahākāleśvara where Śiva is worshiped as Time-transcending Lord.

Significance: Worship of Mahākāla is sought for fearlessness before death/time, removal of calamities, and steadiness in dharma; here the gaṇas are framed as extensions of that Time-conquering sovereignty.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Time (Kāla) as a cosmic principle is foregrounded via the epithet kāla-kāla (conqueror of Time).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virabhadra
• Rudra
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva as Kāla-kāla—transcending and subduing time—and shows that His will manifests through His Gaṇas, who act as extensions of Rudra’s power to uphold dharma and protect Śiva’s devotees.

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

Calling Śiva “Kāla-kāla” points to the Supreme Lord beyond time (Nirguṇa in essence), while the appearance of Vīrabhadra and the Gaṇas expresses His Saguna, active sovereignty—supporting Linga worship where the transcendent is approached through a sacred, worshipable form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as Kāla-kāla while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating fearlessness and surrender; as a simple ritual support, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and remember Rudra’s protective hosts.