Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

गणो भृंगीरिटिः श्रीमान् देवदेवप्रियस्तथा । अशनिर्भालकश्चैव चतुःषष्ट्या सह्स्रकः

Transliteration

gaṇo bhṛṃgīriṭiḥ śrīmān devadevapriyastathā | aśanirbhālakaścaiva catuḥṣaṣṭyā sahsrakaḥ

Translation

在诸伽那之中，有吉祥显赫的婆陵吉利提（Bhṛṅgīriṭi），为天中天所钟爱；又有阿舍尼（Aśani）与婆罗迦（Bhālaka）——并率六万四千伽那随从。

Word by Word

• gaṇaḥ: (a) gaṇa/attendant
• gaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhṛṃgīriṭiḥ: Bhṛṅgīriṭi
• bhṛṃgīriṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhṛṃgīriṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• śrīmān: glorious, illustrious
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; possessive adjective (मतुप्)

• devadevapriyaḥ: dear to the Lord of gods
• devadevapriyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva-deva-priya (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः: devadeva (genitive relation) + priya

• tathā: and also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb/conjunction

• aśaniḥ: Aśani
• aśaniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name/epithet

• bhālakaḥ: Bhālaka
• bhālakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhālaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), emphatic particle

• catuḥṣaṣṭyā: with sixty-four
• catuḥṣaṣṭyā: Sahakāraka/Instrument (करण/संख्या-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuḥ-ṣaṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक; संख्याशब्द)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; numeral compound (dvigu) used as number-expression

• sahasrakaḥ: a thousand (troop)
• sahasrakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; denotes a group/measure (a thousand)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhṛṅgīriṭi
• Aśani
• Bhālaka
• Gaṇas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s vast divine retinue, implying that the Lord’s grace operates through innumerable śakti-filled attendants; reverence to Śiva includes honoring His cosmic order and the devotees who serve Him.

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

It supports Saguna worship by portraying Śiva as the personal Lord (Pati) surrounded by gaṇas; in Liṅga worship, devotees remember Śiva not as isolated but as the sovereign of a living divine community and protector of His bhaktas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with japa—chanting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while mentally offering service to Śiva and His attendants; this can be paired with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application as a sign of Śaiva dedication.