Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 50

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

खमंडले गणेन्द्रस्य शराः कनकभूषिताः । उत्पतंतस्तडिद्रूपैरुपमानपदं ययुः

Transliteration

khamaṃḍale gaṇendrasya śarāḥ kanakabhūṣitāḥ | utpataṃtastaḍidrūpairupamānapadaṃ yayuḥ

Translation

Dans la sphère du ciel, les flèches du Seigneur des Gaṇa, ornées d’or, en s’élançant prirent des formes de foudre, devenant une image digne de comparaison.

Word by Word

• खमण्डले: in the sky-sphere
• खमण्डले: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha-maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: खस्य मण्डलम् (sphere of the sky)

• गणेन्द्रस्य: of Gaṇeśa (lord of the gaṇas)
• गणेन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गणानाम् इन्द्रः (lord of the gaṇas)

• शराः: arrows
• शराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• कनकभूषिताः: adorned with gold
• कनकभूषिताः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kanaka-bhūṣita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) √bhūṣ (भूष्) 'to adorn' → भूषित; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समास: कनकेन भूषिताः (adorned with gold)

• उत्पतन्तः: flying up
• उत्पतन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ut√pat (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle) परस्मैपद: 'flying up'

• तडिद्रूपैः: with lightning-like forms
• तडिद्रूपैः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taḍit-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तडितः रूपम् (form like lightning)

• उपमानपदम्: the status of a simile
• उपमानपदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upamāna-pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: उपमानस्य पदम् (state/position of being a simile)

• ययुः: went/attained
• ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred for Vāyavīya narrative style)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: storm/lightning imagery (taḍit)

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the extraordinary, luminous power that flows through Shiva’s divine retinue; their action appears like lightning—swift and irresistible—suggesting that when Pati (Shiva) supports his devotees and attendants, obstacles and hostile forces are dispelled with sudden clarity.

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

Though the verse is narrative and martial in tone, it reinforces Saguna Shiva’s active governance through his gaṇas; Linga-worship similarly honors Shiva as the present Lord who protects, subdues negativity, and grants auspiciousness to the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while visualizing Shiva’s protective radiance like lightning, and to support the practice with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Shaiva discipline.