Shloka 8

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

पञ्चभिश्च कपालाख्यो गणेशः कोटिभिस्तथा । षड्भिस्सन्दारको वीरो गणानां कोटिभिर्मुने

Transliteration

pañcabhiśca kapālākhyo gaṇeśaḥ koṭibhistathā | ṣaḍbhissandārako vīro gaṇānāṃ koṭibhirmune

Translation

Wahai resi, Gaṇeśa bernama Kapālākhyā, tuan di antara gaṇa-gaṇa Śiva, tampil bersama lima krore pengiring; dan wira Sandāraka pula hadir dengan enam krore gaṇa juga.

Word by Word

• पञ्चभिः: with five (by five)
• पञ्चभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्गे (सामान्यतः), तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कपालाख्यः: (one) named Kapāla
• कपालाख्यः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक); आख्य = √ख्या (धातु) से निष्पन्न
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कपाल-आख्यः = कपालनामकः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• गणेशः: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• कोटिभिः: with crores
• कोटिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine instrumental plural

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb: likewise/also)

• षड्भिः: with six (by six)
• षड्भिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्गे (सामान्यतः), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• सन्दारकः: Sandāraka (name)
• सन्दारकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्दारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• वीरः: hero
• वीरः: कर्ता (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine genitive plural

• कोटिभिः: with crores
• कोटिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine instrumental plural

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine vocative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It highlights the immeasurable, organized power of Śiva’s gaṇas—divine forces that protect dharma and carry out the Lord’s will—showing that the Saguna form of Śiva governs the cosmos through vast, conscious agencies.

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

The verse points to Śiva’s Saguna sovereignty: the Lord worshipped as Liṅga is also the living ruler whose gaṇas manifest His protection and command; devotion to the Liṅga naturally implies reverence for His divine order and attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, praying for the guarding presence of Śiva’s gaṇas and steadiness in bhakti.