Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

सतीदेव्याः योगमार्गेण देहत्यागः — Satī’s Yogic Abandonment of the Body

Devanagari script

गणास्संमंत्र्य ते सर्वेऽभूवन् क्रुद्धा उदायुधाः । कुर्वन्तः प्रलयं वाद्यशस्त्रैर्व्याप्तं दिगंतरम्

Transliteration

gaṇāssaṃmaṃtrya te sarve'bhūvan kruddhā udāyudhāḥ | kurvantaḥ pralayaṃ vādyaśastrairvyāptaṃ digaṃtaram

Translation

众伽那相互商议之后，尽皆震怒，举起兵刃。仿佛引发劫末毁灭之相，他们以战鼓喧鸣与兵器寒光充塞十方天际。

Word by Word

• गणाः: the attendants (gaṇas)
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सम्मन्त्र्य: having consulted
• सम्मन्त्र्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of ते/गणाः)

• अभूवन्: became
• अभूवन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• क्रुद्धाः: angry
• क्रुद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of गणाः)

• उदायुधाः: with weapons raised
• उदायुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास (उद्गतानि आयुधानि येषाम्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of गणाः)

• कुर्वन्तः: doing / causing
• कुर्वन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present Active Participle), परस्मैपद, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सहायक-क्रिया (concomitant action)

• प्रलयम्: destruction
• प्रलयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वाद्यशस्त्रैः: with instruments and weapons
• वाद्यशस्त्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य + शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (वाद्यानि च शस्त्राणि च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• व्याप्तम्: pervaded / filled
• व्याप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of दिगन्तरम्)

• दिगन्तरम्: the space between the directions / the whole horizon
• दिगन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (दिशाम् अन्तरम्/अन्तरालम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satī-khaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-simile (battle-noise likened to dissolution)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the Gaṇas as Śiva’s divine power in action—when dharma and devotion are threatened, the Lord’s attendants manifest an overwhelming force likened to pralaya. In a Śaiva Siddhānta reading, this is not blind destruction but protective, restoring right order under Pati (Śiva).

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

The Gaṇas’ fierce readiness highlights Saguna Śiva’s lordship (aiśvarya) and guardianship of His devotees. Linga-worship centers on taking refuge in Śiva as Pati—who both bestows grace and restrains disorder through His śakti and attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to seek inner steadiness amidst ‘pralaya-like’ agitation by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and remembrance of Śiva as protector; if following Shiva Purana ritual culture, this is supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to focus and devotion.