Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

युद्धप्रसङ्गः—देवगणयुद्धे शिवविष्णुसंयोगः / Battle Episode—Śiva–Viṣṇu Convergence in the Devas’ Conflict

Devanagari script

विष्णुस्तं च गणं दृष्ट्वा धन्योयमिति चाब्रवीत् । महाबलो महावीरो महाशूरो रणप्रियः

Transliteration

viṣṇustaṃ ca gaṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā dhanyoyamiti cābravīt | mahābalo mahāvīro mahāśūro raṇapriyaḥ

Translation

Voyant ce gaṇa, le Seigneur Viṣṇu déclara : «Béni soit-il : d’une force immense, héroïque en vaillance, grand champion et épris de la bataille.»

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: him/that (one)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• गणम्: the troop/gaṇa
• गणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• धन्यः: fortunate/blessed
• धन्यः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Predicate of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• इति: thus/“…”
• इति: वाक्यचिह्न (Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-बोधक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet)

• महावीरः: great hero
• महावीरः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महाशूरः: very valiant
• महाशूरः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रणप्रियः: fond of battle
• रणप्रियः: कर्तृसम्बन्धी विशेषण (Apposition)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive relation: ‘battle’ as object of fondness)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: dhanyo ’yam … mahābalo mahāvīro mahāśūro raṇapriyaḥ

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Gana

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that greatness is recognized by divine discernment: even Viṣṇu honors a gaṇa of Śiva, implying that proximity to Pati (Śiva) sanctifies the devotee and reveals extraordinary śakti and dharma in service.

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

In Saguna worship, Śiva is approached not only through the Liṅga but also through his living presence in his gaṇas and devotees; honoring them supports Liṅga-bhakti and reinforces reverence for Śiva’s manifested order (parivāra) around the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sevā-bhāva: before japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivate humility and respect toward Śiva’s devotees, and begin worship with a reverential salutation to Śiva’s gaṇas (gaṇa-namaskāra) as part of pūjā.