Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

मेना-शिवदर्शन-प्रस्थानम् | Menā’s Quest to Behold Śiva

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

अमुखा विमुखाः केचित्केचिद्बहुमुखा गणाः । अकरा विकराः केचित्केचिद्बहुकरा गणाः

Transliteration

amukhā vimukhāḥ kecitkecidbahumukhā gaṇāḥ | akarā vikarāḥ kecitkecidbahukarā gaṇāḥ

Translation

湿婆的众伽那之中：有的无面，有的背向而立，有的多面。又有的无手，有的手形扭曲，有的则具多手。

Word by Word

• अमुखाः: faceless
• अमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपपद-निषेध (अमुख = ‘without face’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विमुखाः: turned away/backward-faced
• विमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि- + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसर्गार्थ: वि- (turned away)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बहु-मुखाः: many-faced
• बहु-मुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (बहूनि मुखानि येषाम्/बहुमुखाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गणाः: groups/gaṇas
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अकराः: handless
• अकराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/निषेध (अकर = ‘without hands’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विकराः: misshapen-handed/variously-handed
• विकराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि- + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसर्गार्थ: वि- (deformed/varied)

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बहु-कराः: many-handed
• बहु-कराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (बहवः कराः येषाम्/बहुकराः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गणाः: groups/gaṇas
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shiva’s attendants manifest in countless, even unsettling forms, teaching that the devotee should look beyond outer appearance and hold to bhakti and reverence for Pati (Shiva), the Lord of all beings.

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

The gaṇas represent Saguna manifestations surrounding Shiva’s cosmic lordship, while the Śiva-liṅga signifies the transcendent reality that is not limited by form—guiding worship from visible diversity toward the formless ground of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain steady japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate fearlessness and devotion; the verse supports inward concentration rather than fixation on outward, changing forms.