Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

केवलं षण्मुखस्तत्र नापलायत विक्रमी । महावीरस्तदा सर्वानावार्य पुरतः स्थितः

Transliteration

kevalaṃ ṣaṇmukhastatra nāpalāyata vikramī | mahāvīrastadā sarvānāvārya purataḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

ที่นั่นมีเพียงพระษัณมุขผู้กล้าหาญเท่านั้นที่มิได้หนีไป มหาวีรองค์นั้นในกาลนั้นทรงยับยั้งทุกผู้ไว้ และยืนหยัดมั่นคงอยู่แนวหน้า

Word by Word

• केवलम्: only
• केवलम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; अव्ययवत् (adverbial: ‘only/merely’)

• षण्मुखः: Ṣaṇmukha (six-faced one, Skanda)
• षण्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अपलायत: fled
• अपलायत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पलाय् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• विक्रमī: valiant
• विक्रमī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विक्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षण्मुखः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• महावीरः: the great hero
• महावीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• सर्वान्: all (of them)
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• आवार्य: having restrained/held back
• आवार्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) उपसर्ग: आ + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having restrained/checked’

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in front)

• स्थितः: stood
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); ‘stood/was stationed’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya (Ṣaṇmukha/Skanda)

FAQs

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

It presents steadfastness (dhairya) as a dharmic virtue empowered by divine purpose—Ṣaṇmukha, as Shiva’s commander, embodies unwavering resolve that protects others and upholds righteous order.

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

Ṣaṇmukha’s fearlessness is understood as arising from dependence on Saguna Shiva (Pati) and His śakti; devotion to Shiva (often through Liṅga worship) is portrayed as the inner source of stability and protection in संकट (crisis).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is steadiness in japa and worship—especially pañcākṣarī mantra japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with disciplined focus—cultivating inner courage and restraint like the verse’s ‘holding back’ and ‘standing firm’.