Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

किं बहूक्तेन देवर्षे सर्वलोकनिवासिनः । ययुश्शिवगणास्सर्वे युद्धार्थं दानवैस्सह

Transliteration

kiṃ bahūktena devarṣe sarvalokanivāsinaḥ | yayuśśivagaṇāssarve yuddhārthaṃ dānavaissaha

Translation

«À quoi bon en dire davantage, ô sage divin ? Tous les Śiva-gaṇas, demeurant dans tous les mondes, partirent—avec les Dānavas—dans le dessein du combat.»

Word by Word

• किम्: what (use is)
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative particle)

• बहु-उक्तेन: by many words / by much speaking
• बहु-उक्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, √वच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण-कारक (instrumental: 'by much speaking')

• देवर्षे: O divine sage
• देवर्षे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सर्व-लोक-निवासिनः: the dwellers of all worlds
• सर्व-लोक-निवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + निवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘सर्वेषु लोकेषु निवसन्ति’ इति (those dwelling in all worlds)

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• शिव-गणाः: Śiva’s hosts
• शिव-गणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of शिवगणाः)

• युद्ध-अर्थम्: for battle
• युद्ध-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययार्थः (purpose: 'for the sake of battle')

• दानवैः: with the demons (Dānavas)
• दानवैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; सह-योगे (with)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-शब्दः (postposition/particle) ‘with’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva Ganas
• Danavas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that Śiva’s gaṇas act across all realms to re-establish dharma; their movement toward battle symbolizes the removal of adharma and obstacles that bind beings (paśu) in the world.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it reflects Saguna Śiva’s governance: the Lord’s manifest power operates through His gaṇas to protect cosmic order—supporting the devotee’s trust in Śiva as Pati who intervenes through divine agencies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (refuge) in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” remembering that the Lord’s protective power works in all worlds to dispel inner and outer negativity.