Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

महाप्रहारकर्ताऽसौ मत्पार्षदविघातकः । पराजयः कृतस्तेन मद्गणानां बलादिह

Transliteration

mahāprahārakartā'sau matpārṣadavighātakaḥ | parājayaḥ kṛtastena madgaṇānāṃ balādiha

Translation

Ia adalah pelaku hantaman dahsyat dan penghancur para pengiringku. Di sini, dengan kekuatan semata, ia telah menjatuhkan kekalahan atas gaṇa-gaṇaku.

Word by Word

• महाप्रहार-कर्ता: a great striker/assailant
• महाप्रहार-कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (पूर्वपद) + प्रहार (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘प्रहारस्य कर्ता’ = striker

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मत्-पार्षद-विघातकः: destroyer of my attendants
• मत्-पार्षद-विघातकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी-एकवचनार्थ ‘my’) + पार्षद (प्रातिपदिक) + विघातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘मत्पार्षदानां विघातकः’ = destroyer of my attendants

• पराजयः: defeat
• पराजयः: Karta (कर्ता/भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कृतः: was caused/made
• कृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘has been done/caused’

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मत्-गणानाम्: of my troops
• मत्-गणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी-एकवचनार्थ ‘my’) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘my troops’

• बलात्: by force
• बलात्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त) = ‘by force/forcibly’ (adverbial ablative)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as inferred within the Kumārakhaṇḍa battle narrative, describing the plight of his gaṇas)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva Ganas
• Pārṣadas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that mere martial power can overwhelm even Shiva’s hosts, pointing to a Shaiva Siddhanta lesson: strength alone is not the highest refuge—true protection and liberation come through alignment with Pati (Shiva) and surrender to divine will rather than egoic force.

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

By depicting Shiva’s personal concern for his gaṇas, the passage emphasizes Saguna Shiva—compassionate, responsive, and actively involved in dharma. Such narratives support devotional worship of Shiva (including the Liṅga) as the accessible form through which devotees seek grace and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a calm mind, coupled with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance of impermanence—so one relies on Shiva’s grace rather than only personal strength in conflict or adversity.