Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

जालको हि द्वादशभिः कोटिभिर्गणपुंगवः । सप्तभिस्समदः श्रीमान्दुन्दुभोऽष्टाभिरेव च

Transliteration

jālako hi dvādaśabhiḥ koṭibhirgaṇapuṃgavaḥ | saptabhissamadaḥ śrīmāndundubho'ṣṭābhireva ca

Translation

ଗଣପୁଙ୍ଗବ ଜାଲକ ଦ୍ୱାଦଶ କୋଟି ସହିତ ଥିଲେ। ଶ୍ରୀମାନ୍ ସମଦ ସପ୍ତ କୋଟି ସହିତ, ଏବଂ ଦୁନ୍ଦୁଭ ଅଷ୍ଟ କୋଟି ସହିତ ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• जालकः: Jālaka
• जालकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Jālaka (name)

• हि: indeed
• हि: अवधारण/हेतु (Emphasis/Causal nuance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — indeed/for

• द्वादशभिः: with twelve
• द्वादशभिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन — with twelve

• कोटिभिः: with crores
• कोटिभिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन — with crores

• गण-पुंगवः: chief of the gaṇas
• गण-पुंगवः: प्रत्ययार्थ-सम्बन्ध (Predicate/उपाधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — bull/leader among the gaṇas

• सप्तभिः: with seven
• सप्तभिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन — with seven

• समदः: Samada
• समदः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Samada (name)

• श्रीमान्: splendid
• श्रीमान्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — illustrious

• दुन्दुभः: Dundubha
• दुन्दुभः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Dundubha (name)

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: सह (Association/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (सर्वलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचन — with eight

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle) — indeed

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Jalaka
• Samada
• Dundubha

FAQs

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

It highlights the immeasurable, orderly power of Shiva’s Gaṇas—divine servants whose strength reflects Shiva’s sovereignty (Pati) over all forces; devotion aligns the limited self (paśu) with that higher divine order.

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva’s cosmic governance through his attendants; in Linga worship, devotees honor not only the transcendent Shiva but also his manifest powers and retinue that protect dharma and the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Gaṇapati/Śiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), mentally offering service to Shiva’s divine order; this cultivates humility and steadiness before undertaking worship or vows.