Shloka 22

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

भूतकोटिसहस्रेण प्रमथैर्कोटिभि स्त्रिभिः । वीरभद्रश्चतुष्षष्ट्या लोमजानां त्रिकोटिभिः

Transliteration

bhūtakoṭisahasreṇa pramathairkoṭibhi stribhiḥ | vīrabhadraścatuṣṣaṣṭyā lomajānāṃ trikoṭibhiḥ

Translation

Vīrabhadra advanced accompanied by a thousand crores of bhūtas, by three crores of pramathas, and by three crores of the fierce Lomajas—sixty-four in number as their foremost leaders.

Word by Word

• भूतकोटिसहस्रेण: by/with a thousand crores of beings
• भूतकोटिसहस्रेण: Sankhya/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/number-quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + कोटि + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भूतानां कोटीनां सहस्रेण)

• प्रमथैः: with the Pramathas (Śiva’s attendants)
• प्रमथैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• कोटिभिः: by/with crores
• कोटिभिः: Sankhya/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/number-quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• स्त्रिभिः: by/with three
• स्त्रिभिः: Sankhya/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/number-quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (त्रिलिङ्ग) संख्यावाचक; तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वीरः भद्रः)

• चतुष्षष्ट्या: by/with sixty-four
• चतुष्षष्ट्या: Sankhya/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/number-quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुः + षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु (चतुःषष्टिः=64)

• लोमजानाम्: of the Lomajas (a class/group; name)
• लोमजानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोमज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• त्रिकोटिभिः: by/with three crores
• त्रिकोटिभिः: Sankhya/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/number-quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगु (three crores)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vīrabhadra
• Bhūtas
• Pramathas
• Gaṇas (Lomajas)

FAQs

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

It portrays the irresistible collective power of Śiva’s gaṇas moving under Vīrabhadra—symbolizing that when dharma is violated, the Lord’s protective energy manifests with overwhelming force to remove arrogance and restore cosmic order.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—Śiva with attributes—who commands hosts of gaṇas and acts in the world. In Linga worship, devotees honor the same Lord as both transcendent (nirguṇa) and immanent (saguṇa), capable of compassionate grace and, when required, corrective wrath.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating humility and surrender so that one aligns with Śiva’s order rather than the ego that invites correction.