Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

भूतकोटिसहस्रेण प्रमथाः कोटिभिस्त्रिभिः । वीरभद्रश्चतुष्षष्ट्या रोमजानान्त्रिकोटिभिः

Transliteration

bhūtakoṭisahasreṇa pramathāḥ koṭibhistribhiḥ | vīrabhadraścatuṣṣaṣṭyā romajānāntrikoṭibhiḥ

Translation

有三俱胝之普罗摩他（Pramatha），并有千俱胝之部多（bhūta）随从；而毗罗跋陀罗（Vīrabhadra）亦被六十四俱胝的凶猛军众所环绕——皆由主之毛发所生——并有无量无数的其他群队。

Word by Word

• भूतकोटिसहस्रेण: with a thousand crores of beings
• भूतकोटिसहस्रेण: सह/परिमाण-निर्देश (Measure/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत+कोटि+सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक; भूतानां कोटिसहस्रं)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक-समास

• प्रमथाः: the Pramathas (Shiva’s attendants)
• प्रमथाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• कोटिभिः: by crores
• कोटिभिः: परिमाण-निर्देश (Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• त्रिभिः: three
• त्रिभिः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक

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

• चतुःषष्ट्या: by/with sixty-four
• चतुःषष्ट्या: परिमाण-निर्देश (Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्याशब्दः

• रोमजानान्त्रिकोटिभिः: by crores of Romajas and Ānāntris (classes of attendants)
• रोमजानान्त्रिकोटिभिः: परिमाण-निर्देश (Measure/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमज+आनान्त्रि+कोटि (प्रातिपदिक; रोमजाः च आनान्त्रयः च—समाहार)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vīrabhadra
• Pramathas
• Bhūtas

FAQs

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

The verse magnifies the immeasurable śakti of Lord Shiva expressed through His gaṇas: when Pati (Shiva) wills, countless forces arise instantly, showing that worldly power is limited while divine sovereignty is boundless—inviting the devotee to take refuge in Shiva rather than in ego or social status.

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

These vast hosts are manifestations of Saguna Shiva’s lordship—His protective and corrective power in the cosmos. Linga-worship centers the devotee on Shiva as Pati; the gaṇas symbolize that the Lord’s grace and governance operate through innumerable agencies to uphold dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (surrender) with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to adopt Shaiva marks like tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as reminders of belonging to Shiva’s fold (gaṇa-bhāva) and living under His protection.