Shloka 56

मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

इत्यादिविकृताकारा अनेके प्रबला गणाः । असंख्यातास्तथा तात महावीरा भयंकराः

Transliteration

ityādivikṛtākārā aneke prabalā gaṇāḥ | asaṃkhyātāstathā tāta mahāvīrā bhayaṃkarāḥ

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ വികൃതവും ഭയങ്കരവുമായ രൂപങ്ങളോടെ അനേകം പ്രബല ഗണങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. പ്രിയനേ, അവർ അസംഖ്യർ—മഹാവീരർ, ശക്തിയിൽ ഭയാനകർ.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta/quotative particle (निपात), indeclinable

• ādi-vikṛta-ākārāḥ: having various distorted forms, etc.
• ādi-vikṛta-ākārāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + vikṛta (कृदन्त, वि+कृ) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); compound adjective qualifying gaṇāḥ

• aneke: many
• aneke: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with gaṇāḥ

• prabalāḥ: mighty
• prabalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with gaṇāḥ

• gaṇāḥ: troops, hosts
• gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• asaṃkhyātāḥ: countless
• asaṃkhyātāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asaṃkhyāta (कृदन्त/ppp from सं+ख्या with neg. a-)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with gaṇāḥ (understood)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), indeclinable

• tāta: dear one, son (address)
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-vīrāḥ: great heroes
• mahā-vīrāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with gaṇāḥ (understood)

• bhayaṃkarāḥ: terrifying
• bhayaṃkarāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhayaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with gaṇāḥ (understood)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s śakti-filled retinue (gaṇas) as a protective, dharma-defending manifestation of Saguna Shiva—terrifying to adharma yet supportive to devotees, showing that divine power can appear fearsome while serving liberation-oriented order.

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

While the Linga signifies Shiva’s transcendent reality, the gaṇas represent his accessible Saguna domain—his governed cosmos of attendants and energies—reminding worshippers that devotion to Shiva includes reverence for his divine administration and protection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to seek Shiva’s protection through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate steadfast bhakti; the verse supports meditating on Shiva as the Lord of gaṇas who removes fear and obstructive forces.