Shloka 4

युद्धप्रस्थान-वर्णनम्

Departure to the Battlefield and the Śaiva Overlordship over the Devas

Devanagari script

अथ युद्धांगणं गंतुं हरिधात्रोरधीश्वरः । आज्ञापयद्गणेशानां शतं तत्रैव संसदि

Transliteration

atha yuddhāṃgaṇaṃ gaṃtuṃ haridhātroradhīśvaraḥ | ājñāpayadgaṇeśānāṃ śataṃ tatraiva saṃsadi

Translation

Then, intending to proceed to the battlefield, the Supreme Lord over Hari (Viṣṇu) and Dhātṛ (Brahmā) commanded, in that very assembly, a hundred chiefs of his gaṇas (attendant hosts).

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• युद्धाङ्गणम्: battlefield
• युद्धाङ्गणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (युद्धस्य अङ्गणम्)

• गन्तुम्: to go
• गन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (purpose)

• हरिधात्रोः: of Hari and Dhātṛ (Viṣṇu and Brahmā)
• हरिधात्रोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व (हरिश्च धाता च)

• अधीश्वरः: the overlord, supreme lord
• अधीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• आज्ञापयत्: (he) commanded, ordered
• आज्ञापयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ज्ञा (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative), परस्मैपद

• गणेशानाम्: of the Gaṇeśas (attendants)
• गणेशानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-शब्द

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

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

• संसदि: in the assembly
• संसदि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara, Śiva is ‘adhīśvara’ over Hari and Dhātṛ; the episode underscores cosmic governance—He commands gaṇas to restore order when Brahmā–Viṣṇu conflict threatens dharma.

Significance: Pilgrims contemplate Viśvanātha as the regulator of divine functions; surrender to Him stabilizes one’s inner ‘battlefield’ of egoic conflict.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Pati-tattva: Shiva as the supreme Lord who directs even cosmic functions, showing that divine order (ājñā) governs all action, including conflict, under Shiva’s sovereignty.

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

The verse portrays Saguna Shiva as Īśvara—an active, personal Lord who commands his gaṇas. Such narratives support devotional contemplation of Shiva’s lordship, which culminates in Linga-worship as the accessible focus of that supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined obedience to Shiva’s command through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily remembrance of Shiva as the inner ruler (Īśvara), aligning one’s actions with dharma.