Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

चतुष्षष्ट्या विशाखश्च नवभिः पारियात्रिकः । षड्भिस्सर्वान्तकः श्रीमांस्त थैव विकृताननः

Transliteration

catuṣṣaṣṭyā viśākhaśca navabhiḥ pāriyātrikaḥ | ṣaḍbhissarvāntakaḥ śrīmāṃsta thaiva vikṛtānanaḥ

Translation

Viśākha se tint avec soixante-quatre compagnons; Pāriyātrika avec neuf; l’illustre Sarvāntaka avec six; et de même Vikṛtānana—ainsi les gaṇas de Śiva furent rangés pour le combat.

Word by Word

• चतुः-षष्ट्या: with sixty-four
• चतुः-षष्ट्या: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुः (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (64) — with sixty-four

• विशाखः: Viśākha
• विशाखः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Viśākha (name)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction) — and

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन — with nine

• पारियात्रिकः: Pāriyātrika
• पारियात्रिकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारियात्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Pāriyātrika (name/one from Pāriyātra)

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन — with six

• सर्व-अन्तकः: Sarvāntaka (destroyer of all)
• सर्व-अन्तकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः — ‘all-destroyer’

• श्रीमान्: splendid
• श्रीमान्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — illustrious, possessing splendor

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb) — likewise/so

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle) — indeed

• विकृत-आननः: Vikṛtānana (deformed-faced one)
• विकृत-आननः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः — one whose face is deformed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva’s gaṇas as ordered, purposeful powers surrounding Pati (the Lord). Devotion in Shaiva Siddhanta grows by remembering that the Lord’s protection and governance are complete—His śakti manifests as disciplined hosts that remove obstacles and fear.

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

Though the Liṅga signifies the transcendent (Nirguṇa) reality, the Purana also presents Saguna Śiva acting through names, forms, and attendants. Recalling the gaṇas supports Saguna-upāsanā—seeing the Lord’s living presence and guardianship around His devotees and sacred spaces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with mantra: worship Saguna Śiva through japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” mentally placing Śiva’s protective retinue in the directions; optionally accompany it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks of surrender.