Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

एकेन निहतास्सर्वे शक्राद्या निर्जरास्तथा । शंकरस्य गणाश्चैव व्याकुलाः अभवंस्तदा

Transliteration

ekena nihatāssarve śakrādyā nirjarāstathā | śaṃkarasya gaṇāścaiva vyākulāḥ abhavaṃstadā

Translation

ആ ഒരാളാൽ ഇന്ദ്രാദി എല്ലാ അമരദേവന്മാരും തോൽപ്പിക്കപ്പെട്ടു; അപ്പോൾ ശങ്കരന്റെ ഗണങ്ങളും അത്യന്തം വ്യാകുലരായി।

Word by Word

• ekena: by one (person)
• ekena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (agent expressed instrumentally)

• nihatāḥ: slain
• nihatāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-han (धातु) → nihata (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• śakra-ādyāḥ: Indra and others
• śakra-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—शक्रः आदिः येषाम् → शक्राद्याः (तत्पुरुष/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः; here as group-name)

• nirjarāḥ: gods (immortals)
• nirjarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise, also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/रीति-वाचक (also/likewise)

• śaṃkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṃkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• gaṇāḥ: attendant hosts
• gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphasis)

• vyākulāḥ: agitated, distressed
• vyākulāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• abhavan: became
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Devas (Nirjaras)
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Shiva's Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the mightiest devas and divine hosts are not independent; all power ultimately rests in Śiva (Pati). When limited powers are shaken, the seeker is directed to take refuge in Śaṅkara, the supreme Lord beyond fear and disturbance.

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

The verse underscores the need for a tangible refuge in times of upheaval—Saguna Shiva worship (including the Śiva-liṅga) becomes the accessible focus for surrender and steadiness, reminding devotees that Shiva’s lordship surpasses all celestial hierarchies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to stabilize the mind through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and, if following Purāṇic practice, to apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of detachment when agitation (vyākulatā) arises.