Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

विष्टंभोऽष्टाभिरेवेह गणपस्सर्वस त्तमः । पिप्पलश्च सहस्रेण संनादश्च तथाविधः

Transliteration

viṣṭaṃbho'ṣṭābhireveha gaṇapassarvasa ttamaḥ | pippalaśca sahasreṇa saṃnādaśca tathāvidhaḥ

Translation

Ici, le Gaṇapa éminent nommé Viṣṭambha se tint, soutenu par huit compagnons. Pippala se tenait avec mille, et Saṃnāda de même—chacun avec sa grande troupe.

Word by Word

• विष्टम्भः: Viṣṭambha (name)
• विष्टम्भः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्टम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अष्टाभिः: with eight (by eight)
• अष्टाभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• गणपः: Gaṇapa (name)
• गणपः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वसत्तमः: best of all
• सर्वसत्तमः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—सर्वेषां सत्तमः (best of all)

• पिप्पलः: Pippala (name)
• पिप्पलः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• सहस्रेण: with a thousand
• सहस्रेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (by/with a thousand)

• संनादः: Saṃnāda (name)
• संनादः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संनाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• तथाविधः: of that kind, similar
• तथाविधः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—तथा विधः (of such a kind)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha
• Viṣṭambha
• Pippala
• Saṃnāda

FAQs

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

It highlights the ordered might of Śiva’s divine attendants (Gaṇas): their discipline and hierarchy symbolize how Pati (Śiva) governs cosmic forces through devoted, well-arranged energies—power guided by dharma, not chaos.

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

In Saguna worship, Śiva is revered with attributes, retinue, and divine functions. The Gaṇas represent Śiva’s manifested governance in the world; remembering them supports devotion to the living presence of Śiva as Lord who protects and restores order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Gaṇapati-smaraṇa before Śiva-pūjā—beginning worship with “Om Gaṃ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ” and then the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” aligning one’s inner forces with Śiva’s disciplined, protective order.