Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

भूतत्रिपुरधर्मवर्णनम् (Description of the Dharma/Conduct of the Bhūta-Tripura) — Chapter 3

Devanagari script

ततस्तस्माद्यज्ञकुंडात्समुत्पेतुस्सहस्रशः । भूतसंघा महाकायाः शूलशक्तिगदायुधाः

Transliteration

tatastasmādyajñakuṃḍātsamutpetussahasraśaḥ | bhūtasaṃghā mahākāyāḥ śūlaśaktigadāyudhāḥ

Translation

随后，从那祭火之坑中，成千上万的部众鬼神（bhūta）腾然而出——身躯魁伟的随从，执持三叉戟、长枪与钉锤为兵。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; krama-arthaka (then)

• tasmāt: from that
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Pañcamī (Ablative, 5th), Ekavacana

• yajña-kuṇḍāt: from the sacrificial pit
• yajña-kuṇḍāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Pañcamī (Ablative, 5th), Ekavacana

• samutpetuḥ: sprang up/arose
• samutpetuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-pat (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Bahuvacana, Parasmaipada; with upasarga sam-

• sahasraśaḥ: by thousands
• sahasraśaḥ: Prakāra/Saṅkhyā (प्रकार/संख्या)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasraśas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; saṅkhyā-prakāra adverb ('by thousands', distributive)

• bhūta-saṃghāḥ: hosts of beings/spirits
• bhūta-saṃghāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• mahā-kāyāḥ: huge-bodied
• mahā-kāyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'bhūta-saṃghāḥ'

• śūla-śakti-gadā-āyudhāḥ: armed with tridents, spears, and maces
• śūla-śakti-gadā-āyudhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; viśeṣaṇa of 'bhūta-saṃghāḥ'; multiple determinatives: 'having weapons (āyudha) such as śūla, śakti, gadā'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Localized pralayic eruption motif: fierce gaṇas manifesting from yajña-fire as a sign of Śiva’s overriding sovereignty over ritual power.

Characters & Entities

• Bhutas

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva’s sovereign power as Pati: when dharma is violated through ego-driven ritual, Śiva’s śakti manifests protective forces (bhūtas/gaṇas) to restore cosmic order and humble pride.

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

The bhūtas are attendants of Saguna Śiva—His manifest lordship that responds within the world. Linga-worship emphasizes surrender to Śiva beyond mere external yajña, aligning action with devotion and humility.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform worship with reverence rather than pride—apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and remember Śiva as the inner witness guiding all ritual toward purification.