Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

भद्रस्य देवसंघेषु विक्रमः

Bhadra’s Onslaught among the Deva Hosts

Devanagari script

निजैरदूषितैरंगैर्दृष्ट्वा देवानुपद्रुतान् । दंड्यानदंडितान्मत्वा चुकोप गणपुंगवः

Transliteration

nijairadūṣitairaṃgairdṛṣṭvā devānupadrutān | daṃḍyānadaṃḍitānmatvā cukopa gaṇapuṃgavaḥ

Translation

ദേവന്മാർ ഉപദ്രവിക്കപ്പെടുന്നതു കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, തന്റെ അദൂഷിതമായ അവയവങ്ങൾ അക്ഷതമായി നിലനിൽക്കേ, ശിവഗണങ്ങളിൽ അഗ്രഗണ്യനായ ഗണപുങ്ഗവൻ ക്രോധിച്ചു—ദണ്ഡ്യർ ദണ്ഡിക്കപ്പെടാതെ പോയെന്ന് കരുതി।

Word by Word

• निजैः: with (their) own
• निजैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• अदूषितैः: untainted, uncorrupted
• अदूषितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदूषित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) from √दूष् with privative अ-

• अङ्गैः: by/with (their) limbs
• अङ्गैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), from √दृश्

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• उपद्रुतान्: afflicted, harassed
• उपद्रुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपद्रुत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) from √द्रु/√द्रव् with उप- (sense: afflicted/harassed)

• दण्ड्यान्: punishable
• दण्ड्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (those who deserve punishment)

• अदण्डितान्: unpunished
• अदण्डितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदण्डित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; PPP from √दण्ड् (to punish) with privative अ-

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), from √मन् (to think/consider)

• चुकोप: became angry
• चुकोप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कुप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; reduplicated perfect

• गणपुङ्गवः: the leader of the gaṇas
• गणपुङ्गवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + पुङ्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां पुङ्गवः = chief/bull among the gaṇas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative. The ‘gaṇapuṅgava’ embodies Śiva’s delegated punitive agency—dharma-restoration through chastisement when offenders remain ‘adaṇḍita’ (unpunished).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic accountability: when adharma harms the devas (cosmic order), Śiva’s attendants act as instruments of Pati (the Lord) to restore balance, showing that divine grace also includes righteous correction.

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

The gaṇas represent Saguna Śiva’s active governance of the world—His compassionate protection and discipline. Linga-worship aligns the devotee with that order (ṛta/dharma), seeking Śiva’s safeguarding presence in life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind in dharma through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Tripuṇḍra/bhasma remembrance, cultivating inner purity and the courage to correct one’s own wrongdoing.