Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

काकपादोदरः षष्टिकोटिभिर्गणसत्तमः । तथा सन्तानकः षष्टिकोटिभिर्गणपुंगवः

Transliteration

kākapādodaraḥ ṣaṣṭikoṭibhirgaṇasattamaḥ | tathā santānakaḥ ṣaṣṭikoṭibhirgaṇapuṃgavaḥ

Translation

迦迦足腹陀罗，为湿婆伽那中最胜者，有六十俱胝伽那随侍。又有善檀那迦，为伽那之魁首，同样有六十俱胝伽那随从。

Word by Word

• काक-पाद-उदरः: Kākapādodara (name/epithet)
• काक-पाद-उदरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'काकस्य पाद इव उदरं यस्य' / 'having a belly like a crow's foot' (epithet/proper name)

• षष्टि-कोटिभिः: with sixty crores
• षष्टि-कोटिभिः: Sahakāraka/Hetu (सहकारक/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); द्विगु: 'षष्टिः कोटयः' = 'sixty crores' (with sixty crores)

• गण-सत्तमः: best of the gaṇas
• गण-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'गणानां सत्तमः' (best among the gaṇas)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction)

• सन्तानकः: Santānaka (name)
• सन्तानकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• षष्टि-कोटिभिः: with sixty crores
• षष्टि-कोटिभिः: Sahakāraka/Hetu (सहकारक/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; 'with sixty crores'

• गण-पुंगवः: leader among the gaṇas
• गण-पुंगवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुंगव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'गणानां पुंगवः' (bull/leader among the gaṇas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga localization; the stress on ‘best/foremost gaṇas’ and immense numbers supports Rudra’s capacity for overwhelming dissolution when dharma is violated (Dakṣa context).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It magnifies Mahādeva’s lordship (Pati) by describing the immeasurable scope of His gaṇas—divine attendants who embody disciplined service (śeṣatva) and unwavering devotion to Śiva.

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

By presenting Śiva as the sovereign with countless gaṇas, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the Lord through His manifest majesty, retinue, and sacred presence, which culminates in reverence to the Śiva-liṅga as His accessible form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is gaṇa-sevā-bhāva: cultivate devotion and discipline through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sincere worship, aspiring to the steadfast loyalty exemplified by Śiva’s gaṇas.