Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

शिवस्य सैन्यप्रयाणम् तथा गणपतिनामावलिः (Śiva’s Mobilization for War and the Catalogue of Gaṇa Commanders)

Devanagari script

नीलो नवत्या देवेशः पूर्णभद्रस्तथैव च । कोटीनां चैव सप्तानां चतुर्वक्त्रो महाबलः

Transliteration

nīlo navatyā deveśaḥ pūrṇabhadrastathaiva ca | koṭīnāṃ caiva saptānāṃ caturvaktro mahābalaḥ

Translation

尼罗（Nīla，青蓝者）为诸天之主，统摄九十俱胝；圆满贤者（Pūrṇabhadra）亦复如是。四面者（Caturvaktra）大力无比，统摄七俱胝。

Word by Word

• नीलः: Nīla (name)
• नीलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नवत्या: by/with ninety
• नवत्या: Sankhya/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/number-quantifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (ninety)

• देवेशः: Deveśa (lord of gods; name)
• देवेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानाम् ईशः)

• पूर्णभद्रः: Pūrṇabhadra (name)
• पूर्णभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्ण + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (पूर्णं भद्रं यस्य/पूर्णभद्रः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• सप्तानाम्: of seven
• सप्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (त्रिलिङ्ग) संख्यावाचक; षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• चतुर्वक्त्रः: Caturvaktra (four-faced; name)
• चतुर्वक्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु (चारि वक्त्राणि यस्य)

• महाबलः: Mahābala (name)
• महाबलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nīla
• Pūrṇabhadra
• Caturvaktra

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s lordship expressed through orderly hosts (gaṇas) led by mighty commanders, teaching that even vast cosmic powers remain instruments of Pati (Shiva), the supreme governor.

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

By naming Shiva’s manifested administration through gaṇa-leaders, it supports Saguna worship: devotees approach the one Shiva—often through the Liṅga—who compassionately operates the universe via countless divine attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-pati (Shiva) smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while offering bilva leaves or applying tripuṇḍra-bhasma, cultivating surrender to Shiva beyond fear of worldly forces.