Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)

Devanagari script

चतुःषष्ट्या विशाखश्च नवभिः पारियात्रकः । षड्भिः सर्वान्तकः श्रीमान्दुन्दुभोऽष्टाभिरेव च

Transliteration

catuḥṣaṣṭyā viśākhaśca navabhiḥ pāriyātrakaḥ | ṣaḍbhiḥ sarvāntakaḥ śrīmāndundubho'ṣṭābhireva ca

Translation

毗舍迦（生）自六十四分；波利耶特罗迦自九分；光耀的萨尔万塔迦自六分；敦杜婆亦自八分而生。

Word by Word

• चतुःषष्ट्या: with sixty-four
• चतुःषष्ट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (64); संख्या-विशेषण (instr. sg.)

• विशाखः: Viśākha (a gaṇa)
• विशाखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• नवभिः: with nine
• नवभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instr. pl.)

• पारियात्रकः: Pāriyātraka (a gaṇa)
• पारियात्रकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारियात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• षड्भिः: with six
• षड्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instr. pl.)

• सर्वान्तकः: Sarvāntaka (a gaṇa)
• सर्वान्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• श्रीमान्: splendid / illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessive adj.)

• दुन्दुभः: Dundubha (a gaṇa)
• दुन्दुभः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण (instr. pl.)

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojata

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: ordering of emanated gaṇa-principles by numerical ‘aṃśa’ measures within sṛṣṭi

Characters & Entities

• Viśākha
• Pāriyātraka
• Sarvāntaka
• Dundubha

FAQs

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

It presents creation as a measured emanation—beings arise from specific “parts,” pointing to an ordered cosmos sustained by Śiva’s overarching power (Pati), even when individual names and forms diversify.

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

By listing distinct manifested entities, the verse reflects Saguna expression (named forms), while implying their dependence on the one supreme source—worship of the Liṅga centers the devotee in that unifying reality behind all emanations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as the inner cause of all differentiated forms while japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) steadies the mind in the source beyond enumerations.