Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 55

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

Departure for Śiva’s Darśana

Devanagari script

अनेत्रा बहुनेत्राश्च विशिराः कुशिरास्तथा । अकर्णा बहुकर्णाश्च नानावेषधरा गणाः

Transliteration

anetrā bahunetrāśca viśirāḥ kuśirāstathā | akarṇā bahukarṇāśca nānāveṣadharā gaṇāḥ

Translation

诸伽那现出无量奇相——有的无眼，有的多眼；有的形体残缺，有的端正完具；有的无耳，有的多耳——各各披戴不同的形貌与装束。

Word by Word

• अनेत्राः: eyeless
• अनेत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/निषेध (अनेत्र = ‘without eyes’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बहु-नेत्राः: many-eyed
• बहु-नेत्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (बहूनि नेत्राणि येषाम्/बहुनेत्राः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• विशिराः: odd-headed/misshapen-headed
• विशिराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि- + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; वि- उपसर्गार्थ: ‘variously/abnormally’

• कुशिराः: ugly-headed
• कुशिराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कु- (दुष्/कुत्सार्थक-उपसर्ग) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कु- = कुत्सार्थक (bad/ugly)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya/Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• अकर्णाः: earless
• अकर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (नञ्) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/निषेध (अकर्ण = ‘without ears’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• बहु-कर्णाः: many-eared
• बहु-कर्णाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (बहवः कर्णाः येषाम्/बहुकर्णाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• नाना-वेष-धराः: wearing various disguises/attires
• नाना-वेष-धराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (√धृ अच्, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नानावेषं धरन्ति/धारयन्ति ये), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (implied through gaṇas)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Lord’s immeasurable śakti expressed through His gaṇas—divine attendants who can assume limitless forms, reminding the devotee that Shiva’s manifested (saguṇa) domain transcends ordinary human categories and perception.

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

While the Liṅga points to Shiva’s formless reality (nirguṇa), the gaṇas represent His accessible, manifested order (saguṇa) that protects dharma and supports His līlā; devotion may begin with such forms and mature toward the Liṅga’s transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as Pati (the Lord) whose powers operate in countless ways; accompany this contemplation with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” stabilizing the mind amid the diversity of forms.