Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

भूतकोटिसहस्रैस्तु प्रययौ कोटिभिस्त्रिभिः । रोमजैः श्वगणै श्चैव तथा वीरो ययौ द्रुतम्

Transliteration

bhūtakoṭisahasraistu prayayau koṭibhistribhiḥ | romajaiḥ śvagaṇai ścaiva tathā vīro yayau drutam

Translation

他率领亿千之数的部众鬼神，又增三亿之众，并有由毛发所生的军团与犬群随行；那位雄伟者迅疾出发。

Word by Word

• भूतकोटिसहस्रैः: with thousands of crores of beings
• भूतकोटिसहस्रैः: सह/करण (Saha/Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + कोटि + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सहस्र), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भूतानां कोटयः; तासां सहस्रैः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• प्रययौ: went forth
• प्रययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• त्रिभिः: three
• त्रिभिः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• रोमजैः: born from hair
• रोमजैः: सह/करण (Saha/Karaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोम + ज (प्रातिपदिक; ज = √जन् + क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रोम्णः जाताः)

• श्वगणैः: with packs of dogs
• श्वगणैः: सह/करण (Saha/Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वन् + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्वानां गणाः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्धसूचक (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• वीरः: the hero
• वीरः: कर्ता (Kartar)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhutas
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s cosmic sovereignty: even fearsome bhūtas and gaṇas are ordered attendants within dharma. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to Pati (Shiva) governing all beings—pure and impure—transforming fear into reverent surrender.

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

These hosts represent Saguna Shiva’s manifest power (śakti) in the world—protective, disciplinary, and swift in executing divine will. Linga worship centers the devotee on the Lord who commands all forces; thus one seeks refuge in Shiva rather than being disturbed by lower entities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective remembrance of Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and wearing Rudraksha or applying Tripundra (bhasma), cultivating fearlessness by anchoring the mind in Shiva as the supreme guardian.