Shloka 13

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे वीरभद्रः सैन्यसमन्वितः । अगच्छदध्वरं रुद्रप्रेरितो गणनायकः

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare vīrabhadraḥ sainyasamanvitaḥ | agacchadadhvaraṃ rudraprerito gaṇanāyakaḥ

Translation

Meanwhile, Vīrabhadra—the commander of the Gaṇas—set out for the sacrificial rite, accompanied by his forces, impelled by Rudra’s command.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल-स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी-अधिकरण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अन्तरे: in the interval/meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी-अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सैन्य-समन्वितः: accompanied by an army
• सैन्य-समन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (instrumental determinative): ‘सैन्येन समन्वितः’ (endowed with an army)

• अगच्छत्: went
• अगच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अध्वरम्: to the sacrifice (ritual)
• अध्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया-कर्म), एकवचन

• रुद्र-प्रेरितः: impelled by Rudra
• रुद्र-प्रेरितः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त from √प्रेर्/प्रेरय्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः: ‘रुद्रेण प्रेरितः’ (impelled by Rudra)

• गण-नायकः: leader of the gaṇas
• गण-नायकः: Karta (कर्ता/अप्पोजिशन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘गणानां नायकः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Context is Dakṣa’s yajña-adhvara being confronted after Satī’s insult; Vīrabhadra is dispatched as Śiva’s wrathful executive power to disrupt the adharma-yajña.

Significance: Teaches that ritual (yajña) without devotion and right recognition of Pati becomes spiritually sterile and invites saṃhāra (corrective dissolution).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Virabhadra
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows Rudra’s sovereign will protecting dharma: when ritual becomes ego-driven and hostile to devotion, Shiva’s gaṇas act as instruments of cosmic correction, reminding that inner surrender surpasses mere outward sacrifice.

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

Rudra here is Saguna Shiva—personally commanding and guiding events. The verse supports the Purāṇic teaching that true worship centers on Shiva’s grace and authority (often symbolized by the Liṅga), not on prideful ritualism.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to purify intention before any yajña or pūjā: worship Shiva with humility, repeat the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and adopt Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steady devotion.