Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

मधुपिंगस्तथा तात गणाधीशो हि निर्ययौ । नीलो नवत्या कोटीनां पूर्णभद्रस्तथैव च

Transliteration

madhupiṃgastathā tāta gaṇādhīśo hi niryayau | nīlo navatyā koṭīnāṃ pūrṇabhadrastathaiva ca

Translation

随后，噢亲爱者，摩度平伽亦出发；伽那提舍——伽那之主——也同样前行。尼罗亦携九十俱胝随从，普尔那跋陀罗亦然，皆一同启程。

Word by Word

• madhupiṃgaḥ: Madhupiṃga (name)
• madhupiṃgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu-piṃga (प्रातिपदिक; मधु + पिङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (also/likewise)

• tāta: O dear (son)/O dear one
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• gaṇādhīśaḥ: lord of the gaṇas
• gaṇādhīśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa-adhīśa (प्रातिपदिक; गण + अधीश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gaṇānām adhīśaḥ)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• niryayau: went out/departed
• niryayau: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√yā (या धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: निर्

• nīlaḥ: Nīla (name)
• nīlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• navatyā: with ninety
• navatyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: navati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• koṭīnām: of crores
• koṭīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• pūrṇabhadraḥ: Pūrṇabhadra (name)
• pūrṇabhadraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrṇa-bhadra (प्रातिपदिक; पूर्ण + भद्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ (likewise)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थ (emphatic particle: just/indeed)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; mention of ‘Gaṇādhiśa’ foregrounds gaṇa-governance under Śiva, a narrative-theological motif rather than a site legend.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

This verse highlights Śiva’s cosmic sovereignty expressed through His gaṇas: innumerable devoted attendants move at His will. In Shaiva Siddhānta, such imagery reinforces Śiva as Pati (the Lord) whose śakti and retinue uphold divine order, and whose devotees find refuge by aligning with His command.

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

The gaṇas are part of Saguna Śiva’s manifest majesty—His visible, worshipful presence in the world. Remembering Śiva’s retinue while worshipping the Liṅga supports bhakti: the Liṅga signifies the Supreme, and the gaṇas signify His accessible lordship and protection within creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa (recollection of Śiva’s attendants) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate surrender and fearlessness. In temple practice, this can be paired with respectful Liṅga-arcana and Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a sign of Shaiva dedication.