Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 69

भद्रस्य दिव्यरथारोहणं शङ्खनादश्च — Bhadra’s Divine Chariot-Ascent and the Conch-Blast

Devanagari script

ततः सनारायणकास्सरुद्राः सलोकपालास्समरे सुरौघाः । गणेंद्रचापच्युतबाणविद्धाः प्रदुद्रुवुर्गाढरुजाभिभूताः

Transliteration

tataḥ sanārāyaṇakāssarudrāḥ salokapālāssamare suraughāḥ | gaṇeṃdracāpacyutabāṇaviddhāḥ pradudruvurgāḍharujābhibhūtāḥ

Translation

แล้วในศึกนั้น หมู่เทพทั้งหลาย—พร้อมด้วยนารายณ์ เหล่ารุทระ และผู้พิทักษ์โลก—เมื่อถูกศรที่พุ่งจากคันธนูของคเณนทระ ก็พากันหนีไป ถูกความปวดร้าวอย่างรุนแรงครอบงำ

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक/अनन्तरार्थक (temporal adverb: then/thereupon)

• sa-nārāyaṇakāḥ: together with the Nārāyaṇakas
• sa-nārāyaṇakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + nārāyaṇaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—कर्मधारयः (नारायणकाः सहिताः)

• sa-rudrāḥ: along with the Rudras
• sa-rudrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (रुद्रैः सहिताः)

• sa-lokapālāḥ: along with the guardians of the worlds
• sa-lokapālāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + lokapāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (लोकपालैः सहिताः)

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• sura-oghāḥ: hosts of gods
• sura-oghāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सुराणाम् ओघाः)

• gaṇendra-cāpa-cyuta-bāṇa-viddhāḥ: pierced by arrows shot from Gaṇendra’s bow
• gaṇendra-cāpa-cyuta-bāṇa-viddhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṇendra (प्रातिपदिक) + cāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + cyuta (कृदन्त; √cyu च्यु) + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + viddha (कृदन्त; √vyadh व्यध्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः—(gaṇendrasya cāpāt cyutaiḥ bāṇaiḥ viddhāḥ)

• pradudruvuḥ: they fled forth
• pradudruvuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• gāḍha-rujā-abhibhūtāḥ: overcome by intense pain
• gāḍha-rujā-abhibhūtāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gāḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + rujā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhibhūta (कृदन्त; √bhū भू with abhi-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (गाढया रुजया अभिभूताः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Battle narrative motif: the devas (even with Nārāyaṇa and Rudras) are overpowered by Gaṇeśa’s martial force, underscoring Śiva’s gaṇa-śakti and the supremacy of Śaiva order in cosmic conflict.

Significance: Supports gaṇapati-upāsanā within Śaiva frame: honoring Gaṇeśa as Gaṇeśvara/Gaṇendra (Śiva’s commander) removes obstacles and grants protection; also warns against opposing Śiva’s will.

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Deva-asura style cosmic battle episode (samara) within purāṇic time; no specific calendrical marker stated.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Narayana)
• Rudras
• Lokapalas
• Ganesha
• Devas

FAQs

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

It underscores a Shaiva Siddhanta theme: all cosmic powers (devas, Lokapālas, even great divine hosts) are limited and can be overruled by Shiva’s order and his śakti-manifestations—here, Gaṇeśa—teaching surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Pati rather than pride in delegated power.

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

Gaṇeśa functions as a visible (saguṇa) expression of Shiva’s governance. The episode supports linga-centered devotion by showing that the highest refuge is Shiva as Pati—worshiped in the linga—while other divine offices operate within his cosmic sovereignty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with Gaṇeśa and then anchor the mind in Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating humility and protection from ego-driven conflict (an inner ‘battle’).