Shloka 95

Śiva-stavarāja: Upamanyu’s Preface and Initiation of the Śarva-Nāma Enumeration

Anuśāsana-parva 17

Devanagari script

सगणो गणकारश्न भूतवाहनसारथि: । भस्मशयो भस्मगोप्ता भस्मभूतस्तरुर्गण:

Transliteration

sagaṇo gaṇakāraś ca bhūtavāhanasārathiḥ | bhasmaśayo bhasmagoptā bhasmabhūtas tarur gaṇaḥ ||

Translation

ବାୟୁଦେବ କହିଲେ—ସେ ଗଣସହିତ, ଏବଂ ସେହି ଗଣମାନଙ୍କର କର୍ତ୍ତା-ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥାପକ; ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କୁ ସେ ନିଜ ଗଣରେ ସମ୍ମିଳିତ କରନ୍ତି। ତ୍ରିପୁର-ବିନାଶ ପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କ ଯୋଗକ୍ଷେମ ବହନକାରୀ ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ନିଜ ସାରଥି କରିଥିଲେ। ସେ ଭସ୍ମ ଉପରେ ଶୟନ କରନ୍ତି, ଭସ୍ମ ଦ୍ୱାରା ରକ୍ଷା କରନ୍ତି, ସ୍ୱୟଂ ଭସ୍ମସ୍ୱଭାବ; କଳ୍ପବୃକ୍ଷ ପରି ବରଦାୟୀ; ଭୃଙ୍ଗିରିଟି ଓ ନନ୍ଦିକେଶ୍ୱର ଆଦି ପାର୍ଷଦ-ଗଣ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଘେରି ରହନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• सगणः: one who is accompanied by (his) attendants/gaṇas
• सगणः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सगण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गणकारः: maker/organizer of the gaṇas
• गणकारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणकार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भूतवाहनसारथिः: charioteer of the vehicle of beings (i.e., of Bhūtas)
• भूतवाहनसारथिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतवाहनसारथि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भस्मशयः: one who lies/sleeps on ashes
• भस्मशयः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मशय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भस्मगोप्ता: protector by/with ashes
• भस्मगोप्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मगोप्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भस्मभूतः: become ashes; ash-formed
• भस्मभूतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्मभूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तरुः: tree
• तरुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• गणः: troop; attendant group
• गणः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वायुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāyu (Vāyudeva)
• Śiva (implied by epithets and gaṇas)
• Gaṇas (Pramatha-gaṇa implied)
• Brahmā (as charioteer in the Tripura context)
• Tripura (implied by 'Tripura-destruction' gloss)
• Bhṛṅgiriṭi
• Nandikeśvara
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents Śiva as the ideal of austere purity (ash as symbol of renunciation) and as a powerful protector of devotees. Ethically, it links self-restraint and devotion with inner security and divine shelter, suggesting that true protection arises from purity, detachment, and alignment with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vāyu is reciting a praise-list of Śiva’s names and attributes. The epithets highlight Śiva’s gaṇas (attendants), his capacity to incorporate devotees into his retinue, and a mythic allusion to the destruction of Tripura where Brahmā is described (in traditional interpretation) as serving as Śiva’s charioteer.