Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

शिवोथ प्रेषयामास शोभार्थं कोटिशो गणान् । तेन सार्द्धं महावीरान्मलयानलसन्निभान्

Transliteration

śivotha preṣayāmāsa śobhārthaṃ koṭiśo gaṇān | tena sārddhaṃ mahāvīrānmalayānalasannibhān

Translation

随后，湿婆大自在天为彰显吉祥的辉煌与庄严，遣出无数亿万的伽那；并令诸大勇士随行，炽烈如马拉雅之风所助长的烈火。

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भ/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• प्रेषयामास: sent; dispatched
• प्रेषयामास: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√इष् (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative)

• शोभा-अर्थम्: for (adding) splendor
• शोभा-अर्थम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोभा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (accusative of purpose): ‘for splendor/ornamentation’

• कोटि-शः: in crores; by the crore
• कोटि-शः: क्रियाविशेषण (manner/measure)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + शस् (अव्ययप्रत्यय)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (distributive adverb): ‘by crores/in crores’

• गणान्: troops; attendants
• गणान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• तेन: with him
• तेन: सह/साधन (accompaniment/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘with him/with that’

• सार्द्धम्: together with
• सार्द्धम्: सह (Accompaniment marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्द्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय (with/together with)

• महा-वीरान्: great heroes
• महा-वीरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object; in apposition to गणान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; ‘महावीर’ = महान् वीरः (great heroes)

• मलय-अनल-सन्निभान्: resembling the Malaya-mountain fire
• मलय-अनल-सन्निभान्: विशेषण (Qualifier of महावीरान्/गणान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलय (प्रातिपदिक) + अनल (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘मलय-अनल-सन्निभ’ = मलयपर्वताग्निसदृश (like the fire on/at Malaya mountain)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as the supreme Pati who harmonizes cosmic order through sacred arrangement—sending His gaṇas to uphold auspiciousness (śobhā) and ensure that dharmic rites unfold with divine protection and grandeur.

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

By depicting Śiva’s active, manifest governance through His attendants, the text emphasizes Saguna Śiva—worshiped in form (including the Liṅga)—as the compassionate Lord who organizes and sanctifies ritual space and community worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate śuddhi and śobhā in worship—prepare the shrine, invoke Śiva with the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintain protective sanctity (rakṣā) through disciplined japa and reverent ritual order.