Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

काष्ठारूढश्चतुःषष्ट्या सुकेशो वृषभस्तथा । विरूपाक्षश्च भगवांश्चतुष्षष्ट्या सनातनः

Transliteration

kāṣṭhārūḍhaścatuḥṣaṣṭyā sukeśo vṛṣabhastathā | virūpākṣaśca bhagavāṃścatuṣṣaṣṭyā sanātanaḥ

Translation

随那六十四侍从军而来的有迦湿吒阿卢陀（Kāṣṭhārūḍha），亦有苏计沙（Sukeśa）与弗利沙婆（Vṛṣabha）。又随另一组六十四军而至者，是毗卢帕叉（Virūpākṣa）——世尊（Bhagavān）、永恒的古常者。

Word by Word

• काष्ठारूढः: the one mounted on wood (wood-rider)
• काष्ठारूढः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काष्ठ-आ-रूढ (प्रातिपदिक; √रुह् (धातु) से कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेष्यवत्, भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘आरूढ’

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

• चतुःषष्ट्या: by sixty-four (in a group of sixty-four)
• चतुःषष्ट्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (by sixty-four)

• सुकेशः: Sukeśa (one with good hair)
• सुकेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वृषभः: Vṛṣabha (bull; name)
• वृषभः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise/also)

• विरूपाक्षः: Virūpākṣa (the odd/uneven-eyed one)
• विरूपाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-रूप-अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘विरूपे अक्षिणी यस्य’

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

• भगवान्: the Lord, the Blessed one
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; -वत् अन्त (possessive stem)

• चतुःषष्ट्या: by sixty-four (in a group of sixty-four)
• चतुःषष्ट्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुःषष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (by sixty-four)

• सनातनः: eternal, ancient
• सनातनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kāṣṭhārūḍha
• Sukeśa
• Vṛṣabha
• Virūpākṣa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva as Sanātana (the Eternal Pati) moving with ordered hosts of gaṇas, implying that divine sovereignty is not chaotic but a disciplined cosmic power that protects dharma; devotion aligns the soul (paśu) with that supreme Lord beyond fear.

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

By naming Shiva as “Bhagavān” and “Sanātana” amid his gaṇas, the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva—approachable and active in the world—whose presence devotees invoke in Liṅga worship as the living Lord attended by divine energies and protectors.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa (remembrance of Shiva’s retinue) alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a protective meditation, especially before worship or during times of inner conflict.