Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ज्वालकेशो द्वादशभिः कोटिभिर्गणपुंगवः । सप्तभिः समदज्जीमान् दुद्रभोष्टाभिरेव च

Transliteration

jvālakeśo dvādaśabhiḥ koṭibhirgaṇapuṃgavaḥ | saptabhiḥ samadajjīmān dudrabhoṣṭābhireva ca

Translation

阇瓦罗计舍（Jvālakeśa），为湿婆伽那中最卓越的统领，携十二俱胝（koṭi）随从而来。与他同至者有萨玛达阇吉曼（Samadajjīmān）率七俱胝，以及杜德罗婆什吒（Dudrabhoṣṭa）亦率八俱胝。

Word by Word

• ज्वालकेशः: Jvālakeśa (a gaṇa-name)
• ज्वालकेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वालकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—ज्वाला + केश (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/केशाः यस्य)

• द्वादशभिः: with twelve
• द्वादशभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• कोटिभिः: by crores
• कोटिभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• गणपुंगवः: chief of the gaṇas
• गणपुंगवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—गणस्य पुंगवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• सप्तभिः: with seven
• सप्तभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• समदत्: he ate/consumed
• समदत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; सम्-उपसर्गयुक्त

• जीमान्: Jīman (a gaṇa-name)
• जीमान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दुद्रभः: Dudrabha (a gaṇa-name)
• दुद्रभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुद्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उष्टाभिः: with camels
• उष्टाभिः: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the vastness of Śiva’s śakti expressed through His gaṇas—countless divine attendants who uphold His will in the manifested (saguṇa) cosmos, inspiring bhakti and reverence for Śiva’s cosmic sovereignty.

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

By describing Śiva’s organized divine hosts, the verse reinforces saguṇa devotion: worship of the Liṅga and Śiva includes honoring His gaṇas as manifestations of His lordship (Pati) operating within the world-order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with Śiva-nāma japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while offering bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and cultivating humility before Śiva’s all-pervading governance.