Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)

Devanagari script

एते चान्ये च गणपा असंख्याता महाबलः । सर्वे सहस्रहस्ताश्च जटामुकुटधारिणः

Transliteration

ete cānye ca gaṇapā asaṃkhyātā mahābalaḥ | sarve sahasrahastāśca jaṭāmukuṭadhāriṇaḥ

Translation

เหล่านี้และคณาอื่น ๆ นับไม่ถ้วน ล้วนมีกำลังยิ่งใหญ่ ทุกตนมีพันกร และทรงมงกุฎชฎา

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

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

• गणपाः: gaṇa-leaders/attendants
• गणपाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां पाः/पालकाः)

• असंख्याताः: countless
• असंख्याताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + संख्यात (√ख्या धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past participle)

• महाबलाः: very strong
• महाबलाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-विशेषण

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषण

• सहस्रहस्ताः: having a thousand hands
• सहस्रहस्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सहस्रं हस्ताः येषां ते)

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

• जटा-मुकुट-धारिणः: wearing matted-hair crowns
• जटा-मुकुट-धारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा + मुकुट + धारिन् (√धृ धातु, णिनि-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जटामुकुटं धारयन्ति इति)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic-cosmic enumeration: innumerability of gaṇas as a sign of Śiva’s unlimited śakti and lordship in the sṛṣṭi frame.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights the immeasurable scope of Shiva’s śakti expressed through his gaṇas—countless, powerful beings who uphold divine order. Devotion to Shiva includes reverence for his cosmic retinue, reminding the seeker that the Lord’s presence pervades creation through many forms and agencies.

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

The gaṇas are described with Shiva-like attributes (jaṭā and immense power), reinforcing Saguna Shiva’s manifest majesty. In Linga worship, the devotee honors not only the formless Absolute indicated by the Linga, but also Shiva’s manifest lordship (aiśvarya) that governs the cosmos through such attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate gaṇa-bhāva—humble service to Shiva—by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintaining Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder of belonging to Shiva’s divine fold.