Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

पंचभिश्च करालाक्षः षड्भिस्संदारको वरः । कोटिकोटिभिरेवेह कंदुकः कुंडकस्तथा

Transliteration

paṃcabhiśca karālākṣaḥ ṣaḍbhissaṃdārako varaḥ | koṭikoṭibhireveha kaṃdukaḥ kuṃḍakastathā

Translation

Si Karālākṣa, ang mabagsik ang mga mata, ay sumugod dito na may limang hukbo. Dumating ang mahusay na Saṃdāraka na may anim na hukbo. At si Kaṃduka—kasama rin si Kuṇḍaka—ay dumating dito na may mga pangkat na koṭi sa koṭi ang bilang.

Word by Word

• पञ्चभिः: with five (by five)
• पञ्चभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह) विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• करालाक्षः: Karālākṣa (the fierce-eyed one)
• करालाक्षः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कराल + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—करालाः अक्षी यस्य/करालाक्षः (having terrible eyes)

• षड्भिः: with six (by six)
• षड्भिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; numeral adjective

• संदारकः: Saṃdāraka (name)
• संदारकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संदारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वरः: excellent, best
• वरः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• कोटि-कोटिभिः: with crores upon crores
• कोटि-कोटिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (reduplicative: ‘crores and crores’)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• कन्दुकः: Kanduka (name)
• कन्दुकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्दुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुण्डकः: Kuṇḍaka (name)
• कुण्डकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: समुच्चय/प्रकार (Addition/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Karālākṣa
• Saṃdāraka
• Kaṃduka
• Kuṇḍaka

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the immeasurable strength of Śiva’s gaṇas—symbolizing that when Pati (Śiva) protects dharma, His forces are beyond ordinary calculation, reminding the devotee that divine grace can overwhelm inner and outer obstacles.

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

Though the verse is martial and narrative, it supports Saguna Śiva-bhakti by portraying Śiva’s manifest power through His attendants; devotion to the Liṅga aligns the devotee with that protective, ordering presence of Śiva in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate steadiness (śaraṇāgati), remembering that Śiva’s support is vast like “crores upon crores” of protective forces.