Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अग्निकश्शत कोट्या च कोट्याग्निमुख एव च । आदित्यो ह्यर्द्धकोट्या च तथा चैवं घनावहः

Transliteration

agnikaśśata koṭyā ca koṭyāgnimukha eva ca | ādityo hyarddhakoṭyā ca tathā caivaṃ ghanāvahaḥ

Translation

アグニは百コーティに及び、また一コーティの火の口をもつ軍勢も同様にあった。アーディティヤは五千万の数であり、同じく雨雲を担う者たちも、はかり知れぬ大群として集った。

Word by Word

• अग्निकः: Agnika (name)
• अग्निकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• शत: a hundred
• शत: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (here: measure)

• कोट्या: with a crore
• कोट्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument: measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; परिमाण

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• कोट्या: with a crore
• कोट्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument: measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; परिमाण

• अग्निमुखः: Agnimukha (name)
• अग्निमुखः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निमुख (प्रातिपदिक; अग्नि+मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• आदित्यः: Āditya (name)
• आदित्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थ/निपात (for/indeed)

• अर्द्धकोट्या: with half a crore
• अर्द्धकोट्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument: measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्द्धकोटि (प्रातिपदिक; अर्द्ध+कोटि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; परिमाण

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अनुक्रम

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb: thus)

• घनावहः: Ghanāvaha (name)
• घनावहः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घनावह (प्रातिपदिक; घन+आवह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Elemental/cosmic forces (Agni, Āditya, cloud-bearers) are marshaled, suggesting a universe-wide mobilization of tattvic powers.

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Adityas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the immeasurable scale of cosmic forces, implying that even countless Deva-hosts remain within Shiva’s higher sovereignty (Pati), encouraging refuge in Shiva rather than reliance on finite powers.

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

By showing that Agni, Āditya and other powers are vast yet enumerated, the text indirectly points to Saguna Shiva (worshipped as the Liṅga) as the Lord who transcends and governs all such manifested energies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Shiva as the inner ruler of all elemental powers (fire, sun, clouds), cultivating fearlessness and devotion.