Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

इंद्रादिकान्देवगणान् षण्मुखप्रवरान् गणान् । भूतप्रेतपिशाचांश्च सर्वानादेशयत्तदा

Transliteration

iṃdrādikāndevagaṇān ṣaṇmukhapravarān gaṇān | bhūtapretapiśācāṃśca sarvānādeśayattadā

Translation

Alors il donna ses ordres à tous : aux troupes des dieux à commencer par Indra, aux gaṇas les plus éminents conduits par le Six-Visages (Ṣaṇmukha), ainsi qu’à tous les bhūtas, pretas et piśācas.

Word by Word

• इन्द्र-आदिकान्: Indra and others
• इन्द्र-आदिकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—इन्द्रः आदिः येषाम् (इन्द्रादि-समूह)

• देवगणान्: groups of gods
• देवगणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—देवानां गणाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• षण्मुखप्रवरान्: the foremost of Ṣaṇmukha (Skanda’s) (troops)
• षण्मुखप्रवरान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षण्मुख + प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—षण्मुखः प्रवरः येषाम् / षण्मुखस्य प्रवराः (अर्थानुसार)

• गणान्: troops/hosts
• गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भूत-प्रेत-पिशाचान्: bhūtas, pretas, and piśācas
• भूत-प्रेत-पिशाचान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + प्रेत + पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• आदेशयत्: commanded/ordered
• आदेशयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devas
• Kartikeya (Ṣaṇmukha/Skanda)
• Ganas
• Bhūtas
• Pretas
• Piśācas

FAQs

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

It portrays divine governance: all classes of beings—devas, gaṇas, and spirit-hosts—move under a higher command, reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta principle that cosmic order functions through the Lord’s (Pati’s) will and delegated authority.

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

The verse highlights Saguna administration of the cosmos: Shiva’s manifested power operates through chosen leaders (like Ṣaṇmukha) and attendant gaṇas, reminding devotees that Linga-worship honors the supreme source from whom all authority and protection flow.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined obedience to dharma through Shiva-centered devotion—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with calm focus, supported by traditional Shaiva aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa for steadiness and protection.