Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

आवेशनस्तथाष्टाभिस्त्वष्टभिश्चन्द्रतापनः । महाकेशः सहस्रेण कोटीनां गणपो वृतः

Transliteration

āveśanastathāṣṭābhistvaṣṭabhiścandratāpanaḥ | mahākeśaḥ sahasreṇa koṭīnāṃ gaṇapo vṛtaḥ

Translation

Asimismo, Āveśana llegó con ocho huestes asistentes, y Candratāpana con otras ocho; y Mahākeśa, caudillo de los gaṇas de Śiva, estaba rodeado por mil koṭis de gaṇas.

Word by Word

• आवेशनः: Āveśana (name)
• आवेशनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अनुक्रम (also/likewise)

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument: accompaniment/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सामान्यतः नपुंसक/पुं), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोध (but/indeed)

• अष्टभिः: with eight
• अष्टभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument: accompaniment/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• चन्द्रतापनः: Candratāpana (name)
• चन्द्रतापनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्रतापन (प्रातिपदिक; चन्द्र+तापन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• महाकेशः: Mahākeśa (name)
• महाकेशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकेश (प्रातिपदिक; महा+केश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• सहस्रेण: with a thousand
• सहस्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument: measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; संख्यापरिमाण

• कोटीनाम्: of crores
• कोटीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• गणपः: Gaṇapa (name)
• गणपः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• वृतः: surrounded/attended
• वृतः: कर्तृसम्बन्ध (predicate to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Āveśana
• Candratāpana
• Mahākeśa

FAQs

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

It highlights the immeasurable, protective power of Śiva’s śakti expressed through His gaṇas—showing that the Lord’s Saguna presence safeguards devotees and upholds dharma through countless divine forces.

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

While the Liṅga signifies Śiva’s supreme transcendence, this verse emphasizes His Saguna lordship as Gaṇeśvara—commanding hosts who execute His will—encouraging devotees to worship the Liṅga with trust in Śiva’s active grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating fearlessness and remembrance of Śiva as the protector surrounded by infinite gaṇas.