Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)

Devanagari script

जालंको हि द्वादशभिः कोटिभिर्गणपुंगवः । सप्तभिस्समदः श्रीमांस्तथैव विकृताननः

Transliteration

jālaṃko hi dvādaśabhiḥ koṭibhirgaṇapuṃgavaḥ | saptabhissamadaḥ śrīmāṃstathaiva vikṛtānanaḥ

Translation

En vérité, Jālaṅka est le plus éminent parmi les gaṇa de Śiva, entouré de douze crores de compagnons. De même, l’illustre Samada est entouré de sept crores, et Vikṛtānana pareillement.

Word by Word

• जालंकः: Jālaṃka (a gaṇa)
• जालंकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जालंक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• द्वादशभिः: with twelve
• द्वादशभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (12); संख्या-विशेषण (instr. pl.)

• कोटिभिः: with crores
• कोटिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instr. pl.)

• गणपुंगवः: chief among the gaṇas
• गणपुंगवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• सप्तभिः: with seven
• सप्तभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instr. pl.)

• समदः: Samada (a gaṇa)
• समदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• श्रीमान्: illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

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

• विकृताननः: Vikṛtānana (a gaṇa)
• विकृताननः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृत + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (having a deformed/strange face)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: expansion of Śiva’s gaṇa-hosts to multi-crore scales, signaling cosmic sovereignty in the sṛṣṭi narrative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s sovereign order (aiśvarya) expressed through his vast gaṇa-hosts—showing that the Lord (Pati) governs creation through empowered attendants, and devotion deepens by recognizing this sacred hierarchy.

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

In Saguna worship, the Liṅga represents Shiva’s accessible presence; the gaṇas are his divine entourage and guardians. Honoring Shiva includes reverence for his śakti-filled retinue, reinforcing disciplined bhakti toward the Liṅga as the Lord of all hosts.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-sevā-bhāva in worship: perform pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, offer bilva and water to the Liṅga, and mentally salute Shiva’s gaṇas as protectors of dharma before concluding the pūjā.