Shloka 53
दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः
Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara
सर्वे सहस्रहस्तास्ते सहस्रायुधपाणयः । रुद्रस्यानुचरास्सर्वे सर्वे रुद्रसमप्रभाः
sarve sahasrahastāste sahasrāyudhapāṇayaḥ | rudrasyānucarāssarve sarve rudrasamaprabhāḥ
All of them had a thousand hands, and in their hands were a thousand weapons. All were attendants of Rudra, and all shone with a splendor equal to Rudra’s own.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
It portrays Rudra’s gaṇas as extensions of Rudra’s sovereign power—many-armed and weapon-bearing—symbolizing the Lord’s all-pervading capacity to protect dharma and remove obstacles for devotees under Pati’s (Shiva’s) command.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva (Rudra) as the manifest Lord with divine attributes and retinue; Linga-worship leads the devotee to this Lord who governs and protects through His gaṇas, while ultimately pointing beyond forms to Shiva’s supreme mastery as Pati.
A practical takeaway is protective remembrance of Rudra through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva as the refuge (Pati), invoking His guardianship as symbolized by the powerful gaṇas.