Shloka 11

शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)

Devanagari script

अभ्ययाच्छंखकर्णश्च गणकोट्या गणेश्वरः । दशभिः केकराक्षश्च विकृतोऽष्टाभिरेव च

Transliteration

abhyayācchaṃkhakarṇaśca gaṇakoṭyā gaṇeśvaraḥ | daśabhiḥ kekarākṣaśca vikṛto'ṣṭābhireva ca

Translation

Then the Gaṇa-lord Śaṅkhakarṇa approached, accompanied by a crore of Gaṇas; Kekarākṣa came with ten, and Vikṛta came with eight as well.

Word by Word

• अभ्ययात्: approached / came near
• अभ्ययात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-या (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/भूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः अभि-

• शंखकर्णः: Śaṅkhakarṇa (a gaṇa)
• शंखकर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंख + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (one whose ears are like conches / conch-eared)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• गण-कोट्या: with a crore of gaṇas
• गण-कोट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास; करण/सहायार्थ (instr. sg.)

• गणेश्वरः: lord of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instr. pl.)

• केकराक्षः: Kekarākṣa (a gaṇa)
• केकराक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकर + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (having 'kekara' eyes / a proper name)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• विकृतः: Vikṛta (a gaṇa)
• विकृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणवत् नाम (proper name-like)

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instr. pl.)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: gaṇa-sṛṣṭi / organization of Śiva’s attendants within the creation narrative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Śaṅkhakarṇa
• Kekarākṣa
• Vikṛta
• Gaṇas

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva’s power is not chaotic but perfectly ordered: countless Gaṇas, each under a chief, assemble in disciplined devotion—symbolizing how the devotee’s inner faculties should gather under the lordship of Pati (Śiva) for dharma and liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s manifest lordship—His tangible governance through Gaṇas. In Linga-worship, devotees honor Śiva as the supreme Pati who, though beyond attributes, compassionately operates in the world through divine hosts to uphold cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with Śiva-bhakti: begin worship by invoking Śiva’s protection and order—apply Tripuṇḍra, chant the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and mentally “assemble” the senses under Śiva before japa or meditation.