Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

रुद्र उवाच । हे वीरभद्र हे नंदिन्क्षेत्रपालष्टभैरवाः । सर्वे गणाश्च सन्नद्धास्सायुधा बलशालिनः

Transliteration

rudra uvāca | he vīrabhadra he naṃdinkṣetrapālaṣṭabhairavāḥ | sarve gaṇāśca sannaddhāssāyudhā balaśālinaḥ

Translation

Rudra nói: "Hỡi Vīrabhadra! Hỡi Nandī! Hỡi Kṣetrapāla và Tám vị Bhairava! Hãy để tất cả các Gaṇa—với đầy đủ vũ khí, chuẩn bị sẵn sàng và tràn đầy sức mạnh—hãy đứng sẵn sàng."

Word by Word

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हे: O!
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• वीरभद्र: O Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हे: O!
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात

• नन्दिन्: O Nandin
• नन्दिन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षेत्रपाल: O guardian of the field (Kṣetrapāla)
• क्षेत्रपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्रपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षेत्रस्य पालः); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अष्टभैरवाः: the eight Bhairavas
• अष्टभैरवाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Addressed group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट-भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (अष्टौ भैरवाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयोगः)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (गणाः)

• गणाः: troops, attendants
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सन्नद्धाः: armed/ready, equipped
• सन्नद्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-नह् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (गणाः)

• स-आयुधाः: with weapons
• स-आयुधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (आयुधानि सन्ति येषां ते); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (गणाः)

• बलशालिनः: strong, powerful
• बलशालिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल-शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (बलेन शालिनः/बलसम्पन्नाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (गणाः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)
• Virabhadra
• Nandi
• Kshetrapala
• Ashta Bhairavas
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse shows Rudra as Pati (the supreme Lord) directing his divine attendants. In Shaiva understanding, Shiva’s command symbolizes the awakening of disciplined spiritual power—strength guided by divine will rather than ego—so that dharma is protected and adharma is checked.

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

This is a Saguna (personal) manifestation of Shiva: Rudra speaks, commands, and organizes his gaṇas. For devotees, such narration supports bhakti toward Shiva as an accessible Lord, while the Linga remains the stable, worshipful sign of that same supreme reality beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is “sannaddha”—inner readiness: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct. The verse supports cultivating protective awareness (Bhairava-bhāva) and purity of intention before any intense sādhana.