Shloka 5

युद्धप्रस्थान-वर्णनम्

Departure to the Battlefield and the Śaiva Overlordship over the Devas

Devanagari script

ततो वाद्यं बहुविधं प्रयाणाय परेशितुः । गणेश्वराश्च संनद्धा नानावाहनभूषणाः

Transliteration

tato vādyaṃ bahuvidhaṃ prayāṇāya pareśituḥ | gaṇeśvarāśca saṃnaddhā nānāvāhanabhūṣaṇāḥ

Translation

Then, for the departure of the Supreme Lord, many kinds of musical instruments were sounded; and the Gaṇeśvaras, fully armed and prepared, appeared adorned with diverse vehicles and ornaments.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• vādyaṃ: musical instrument(s), music
• vādyaṃ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular)

• bahuvidhaṃ: of many kinds
• bahuvidhaṃ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu-vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• prayāṇāya: for the departure/journey
• prayāṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prayāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन (singular)

• pareśituḥ: of the supreme lord/commander
• pareśituḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pareśitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• gaṇeśvarāḥ: the lords of the gaṇas (attendants)
• gaṇeśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• saṃnaddhāḥ: armed, equipped, ready
• saṃnaddhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-nah (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण

• nānā-vāhana-bhūṣaṇāḥ: having various vehicles and ornaments
• nānā-vāhana-bhūṣaṇāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nānā (अव्यय) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (possessive), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Kāśī’s Lord as commander of the gaṇas: the sounding of instruments and arming of gaṇeśvaras dramatizes Śiva’s readiness to quell disorder—an outward sign of His inner sovereignty.

Significance: Processional imagery resonates with temple utsavas; devotees gain courage and protection (rakṣā) by aligning with Śiva’s host and discipline.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas (Gaṇeśvaras)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the Lord’s auspicious movement being honored by sacred sound and orderly divine attendants, teaching that when Pati (Śiva) is approached with reverence, the cosmos itself becomes a temple—outer celebration reflecting inner devotion and readiness.

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

Though not naming the Liṅga directly, it reflects Saguna worship: devotees honor Śiva’s manifest presence through music, procession, and service. In Shaiva Siddhānta, such reverent acts purify the paśu (individual soul) and make it fit to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use sacred sound as worship—chant the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady rhythm (japa), and accompany pūjā with devotional singing or instruments; cultivate inner “readiness” (saṁnaddha-bhāva) through disciplined daily worship.