Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

द्यौर्ग्रहर्क्षगणैर्घूर्ण्णा सर्वे व्याकुलतां गताः । देवाः पलायितास्सर्वे गणाश्च सकलास्तदा

Transliteration

dyaurgraharkṣagaṇairghūrṇṇā sarve vyākulatāṃ gatāḥ | devāḥ palāyitāssarve gaṇāśca sakalāstadā

Translation

ଗ୍ରହ-ନକ୍ଷତ୍ରମାନଙ୍କ ଘୂର୍ଣ୍ଣନଶୀଳ ଗଣରେ ଆକାଶ ଅଶାନ୍ତ ହେଲା। ସମସ୍ତେ ବ୍ୟାକୁଳ ହେଲେ; ସେତେବେଳେ ସମସ୍ତ ଦେବତା ଓ ସମସ୍ତ ଗଣ ମଧ୍ୟ ପଳାଇଗଲେ।

Word by Word

• द्यौः: the sky/heaven
• द्यौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ग्रह-ऋक्ष-गणैः: by the groups of planets and stars/constellations
• ग्रह-ऋक्ष-गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• घूर्ण्णा: whirled/turned about
• घूर्ण्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घूर्ण् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); द्यौः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• व्याकुलताम्: agitation/confusion
• व्याकुलताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याकुलता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गताः: went/entered (became)
• गताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘गताः’ = ‘have gone/entered’ (periphrastic perfect sense)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पलायिताः: fled
• पलायिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); ‘have fled’

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); देवाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गणाः: the troops/attendants
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

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

• सकलाः: entire/all
• सकलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); गणाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic disturbance: graha-nakṣatra-gaṇa whirl, indicating a fate/daiva-driven upheaval akin to pralaya-echo or battle-omen.

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Grahas
• Ṛkṣas
• Gaṇas

FAQs

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

It shows that even cosmic order (grahas and constellations) can be shaken, and even devas can panic—pointing to the Shaiva Siddhānta insight that worldly and celestial powers are limited, while the Supreme Lord (Pati, Śiva) alone is the stable refuge beyond fear and agitation.

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

When the heavens themselves become unsettled and the devas flee, the Purāṇa implicitly directs the devotee to seek protection in Saguna Śiva—worshipped as the Liṅga—who is the controller of cosmic functions and the inner support of all worlds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and to take Śiva-āśraya (refuge in Śiva); if following Purāṇic practice, one may also apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of impermanence and Śiva’s protection.