Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

तथाविधं हरिं दृष्ट्वा वीरभद्रो रिमर्दनः । अवदत्त्वरितः क्रुद्धो गणैर्वीरैस्समावृतः

Transliteration

tathāvidhaṃ hariṃ dṛṣṭvā vīrabhadro rimardanaḥ | avadattvaritaḥ kruddho gaṇairvīraissamāvṛtaḥ

Translation

そのような有様のハリを見て、敵を打ち砕くヴィーラバドラは憤怒に燃え、ただちに命を下して、勇猛なるガナたちに囲まれつつ進み出た。

Word by Word

• तथाविधम्: such (of that kind)
• तथाविधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा-विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) हरिम् इत्यस्य; समासः कर्मधारयः (‘तथा’ इव ‘विध’ः)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-hetu (क्रियाहेतु/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातुः दृश् (to see) + क्त्वा

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर-भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (वीरः च असौ भद्रः)

• रिमर्दनः: Rimardana (a name/epithet)
• रिमर्दनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रि-मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि/नाम

• अवदत्: spoke/said
• अवदत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः अव-

• त्वरितः: hastened
• त्वरितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) √त्वर् (to hasten)

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) √क्रुध् (to be angry)

• गणैः: by/with the gaṇas (attendants)
• गणैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वीरैः: by/with heroic (ones)
• वीरैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) गणैः इत्यस्य

• समावृतः: surrounded/encircled
• समावृतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-वृत (धातु √वृत्; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘surrounded’; उपसर्गाः सम्+आ-

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Vīrabhadra
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Gaṇas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s protective power manifesting through Vīrabhadra and the gaṇas: when dharma is violated through prideful, exclusionary ritualism, divine correction arises to restore spiritual order and humility before Pati (Śiva).

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

Vīrabhadra and the gaṇas represent Saguna Śiva’s active grace and governance: devotion to the Liṅga is not mere ceremony but alignment with Śiva’s dharma, where true worship transcends status, ego, and ritual display.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility and surrender through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and the Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as reminders that inner purity and devotion are superior to pride-driven outward rites.