Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मेन्द्रविष्णुसंकाशा अणिमादि गणैर्वृताः । सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशास्तत्राजग्मुर्गणेश्वराः

Transliteration

brahmendraviṣṇusaṃkāśā aṇimādi gaṇairvṛtāḥ | sūryakoṭipratīkāśāstatrājagmurgaṇeśvarāḥ

Translation

Resplendissants comme Brahmā, Indra et Viṣṇu, et entourés de troupes dotées de pouvoirs tels qu’aṇimā et autres, les Seigneurs des Gaṇas arrivèrent en ce lieu—rayonnants comme dix millions de soleils.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मेन्द्रविष्णुसंकाशाः: resembling Brahmā, Indra and Viṣṇu
• ब्रह्मेन्द्रविष्णुसंकाशाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + इन्द्र + विष्णु + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• अणिमादि: (powers) beginning with aṇimā
• अणिमादि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/associated descriptor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अणिमा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—अव्ययीभाव (ādi as indeclinable-like head)

• गणैः: by groups; with attendants
• गणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/सह (instrumental/with)

• वृताः: surrounded
• वृताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) → वृत (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशाः: shining like crores of suns
• सूर्यकोटिप्रतीकाशाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूर्य + कोटि + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• आजग्मुः: came; arrived
• आजग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• गणेश्वराः: lords of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Rudra Saṃhitā’s creation narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic epiphany of the gaṇa-lords: radiance ‘like crores of suns’ signals a theophanic moment within the creation account.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Indra
• Vishnu
• Ganas (Shiva’s attendants)

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva’s cosmic order: even mighty, radiant beings and siddhi-bearing hosts function as gaṇas—servants within the Lord’s governance—highlighting that true power is grounded in devotion and Śiva’s grace (anugraha), not mere brilliance.

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

The gaṇeśvaras are attendants of Saguna Śiva, the manifest Lord who is worshipped through the Liṅga. Their radiant arrival emphasizes the majesty of Śiva’s visible, worship-worthy presence and the sanctity of His divine assembly surrounding the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the supreme Pati attended by gaṇas, while chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). Offer bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and cultivate humility—treating siddhis as secondary to bhakti and inner purity.