Shloka 17

देव-गण-समरः

Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle

Devanagari script

केचिद्द्विधा कृताः खड्गैर्मुद्गरैश्च विपोथिताः । अन्यैश्शस्त्रैरपि सुरा गणैर्भिन्नास्तदाऽभवन्

Transliteration

keciddvidhā kṛtāḥ khaḍgairmudgaraiśca vipothitāḥ | anyaiśśastrairapi surā gaṇairbhinnāstadā'bhavan

Translation

Sebahagian dewa dibelah dua oleh pedang, yang lain dihancurkan oleh belantan. Dipukul pula dengan senjata lain, para dewa ketika itu dipecahkan oleh Gaṇa Śiva.

Word by Word

• केचित्: some (of them)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (‘some’)

• द्विधा: into two
• द्विधा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb), ‘in two ways/into two’

• कृताः: were made
• कृताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘made’ (passive sense)

• खड्गैः: by swords
• खड्गैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• मुद्गरैः: by maces
• मुद्गरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्गर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• विपोथिताः: were crushed
• विपोथिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+पुथ्/पथ् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘smashed/crushed’

• अन्यैः: by other
• अन्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of śastraiḥ)

• शस्त्रैः: weapons
• शस्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (also/even)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गणैः: by the gaṇas
• गणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• भिन्नाः: were split
• भिन्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘split/broken’

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अभवन्: became/were
• अभवन्: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘they became/were’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (gaṇas)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It portrays the irresistible supremacy of Pati (Lord Shiva) over all cosmic powers; when divine order is opposed through pride or adharmic intent, even devas are humbled—pointing the seeker toward surrender and alignment with Shiva’s will.

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

The gaṇas act as Saguna Shiva’s manifest force in the world—showing that Shiva is not only the transcendent Nirguna reality but also the immanent Lord who protects dharma through visible agency, a key devotional frame for Linga-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender): steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” undertaken with humility (often with bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa in Shaiva practice), to dissolve ego and align with Shiva.