Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 50

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

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

तावदेव समायाता रुद्रसेना महाद्भुता । भूतप्रेतादिसंयुक्ता नानागणसमन्विता

Transliteration

tāvadeva samāyātā rudrasenā mahādbhutā | bhūtapretādisaṃyuktā nānāgaṇasamanvitā

Translation

Pada saat itu juga, bala tentera Rudra yang menakjubkan pun tiba, disertai rombongan bhūta, preta dan seumpamanya, serta dipenuhi pelbagai jenis gaṇa, para pengiring Śiva.

Word by Word

• तावत्: just then
• तावत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/कालवाचक (just so much/at that time)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• समायाता: arrived
• समायाता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having arrived/arrived’

• रुद्र-सेना: Rudra’s army
• रुद्र-सेना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सेना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—रुद्रस्य सेना (Rudra’s army)

• महा-अद्भुता: very wondrous
• महा-अद्भुता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—महती अद्भुता (very wondrous)

• भूत-प्रेत-आदि-संयुक्ता: accompanied by bhūtas, pretas, etc.
• भूत-प्रेत-आदि-संयुक्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘संयुक्त’; तत्पुरुषः—भूतप्रेतादिभिः संयुक्ता (joined with beings, ghosts, etc.)

• नाना-गण-समन्विता: accompanied by various groups
• नाना-गण-समन्विता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘समन्वित’; तत्पुरुषः—नानागणैः समन्विता (endowed with various troops)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Rudrasena
• Ganas
• Bhutas
• Pretas

FAQs

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

It depicts Rudra as Pati—the sovereign who commands even fearsome and liminal beings (bhūtas and pretas). In Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to Shiva’s absolute lordship and his power to transform chaos and dread into ordered divine service through the gaṇas.

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

The arrival of Rudra’s hosts highlights Saguna Shiva as the living, protective Lord who acts in the world with his attendants. Linga-worship invokes that same Rudra-tattva—seeking refuge in Shiva who governs all realms and beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective remembrance of Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and reverent use of vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) or rudrākṣa to cultivate fearlessness and steadiness under Rudra’s guardianship.