Shloka 15

Devanagari script

मरुतो नाम ते देवा बभूवुस्तु महाबलाः । खगा एकोनपंचाशत्सहाया वज्रपाणिनः

Transliteration

maruto nāma te devā babhūvustu mahābalāḥ | khagā ekonapaṃcāśatsahāyā vajrapāṇinaḥ

Translation

Those gods came to be known as the Maruts—mighty in strength. As winged ones, they became the forty-nine companions of Vajrapāṇi (Indra), the wielder of the thunderbolt.

Word by Word

• मरुतः: the Maruts
• मरुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Specifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामनिर्देशक-अव्यय (particle: by name)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (अप्पोजिशन)

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अन्वय/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• महाबलाः: very strong/mighty
• महाबलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of मरुतः/देवाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (महद् बलं येषाम्/महाबलाः)

• खगाः: Khagas (a group/name)
• खगाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (पाठभेद; सन्दर्भे 'खगा' = companions/attendants as a class-name)

• एकोन-पञ्चाशत्: forty-nine
• एकोन-पञ्चाशत्: Sankhya (संख्या/Numerical qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + ऊन + पञ्चाशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-द्विगु; (अव्ययवत्) संख्या-प्रयोगः; अर्थः 49 (one less than fifty)

• सहायाः: companions/allies
• सहायाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वज्रपाणिनः: of Vajrapāṇi (Indra)
• वज्रपाणिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (वज्रः पाणौ यस्य सः = Indra)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Maruts
• Indra (Vajrapāṇi)

FAQs

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

It situates powerful deities like the Maruts within the cosmic order: even mighty divine hosts function as auxiliaries under higher governance, while in Shaiva Siddhanta the supreme Pati (Shiva) remains the ultimate source and liberator beyond all delegated powers.

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

By showing that Indra and his companions are administrative powers, the verse implicitly directs devotion away from limited authorities toward Saguna Shiva—worshiped as the Linga—who alone grants grace (anugraha) and ultimate release, not merely worldly protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to anchor worship in Shiva-centered sadhana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-puja—rather than seeking boons from secondary deities; this aligns the mind toward Pati for enduring spiritual fruit.