Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

आगत्य तस्थौ सा तत्र योगिनीनां त्रिकोटिभिः । सार्द्धं च डाकिनीनां वै विकटानां त्रिकोटिभिः

Transliteration

āgatya tasthau sā tatra yoginīnāṃ trikoṭibhiḥ | sārddhaṃ ca ḍākinīnāṃ vai vikaṭānāṃ trikoṭibhiḥ

Translation

她到达彼处，便立于其间，随侍者有三俱胝瑜伽女；并且确有三俱胝凶猛可怖的荼吉尼同来相伴。

Word by Word

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√गम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त/अव्ययीभाव)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): ‘having come’

• तस्थौ: stood, remained
• तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• योगिनीनाम्: of the yoginīs
• योगिनीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• त्रिकोटिभिः: by three crores (in number)
• त्रिकोटिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्विगु (by three crores)

• सार्द्धम्: together with
• सार्द्धम्: Sahartha (सहार्थ/Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्द्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक अव्यय (adverb/preposition-like: together with)

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

• डाकिनीनाम्: of the ḍākinīs
• डाकिनीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (particle: indeed, surely)

• विकटानाम्: of the fierce/terrible (ones)
• विकटानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘डाकिनीनाम्’)

• त्रिकोटिभिः: by three crores (in number)
• त्रिकोटिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; द्विगु (by three crores)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Yoginīs
• Ḍākinīs

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the vast, organized power of Śakti’s retinue—Yoginīs and fierce Ḍākinīs—showing that cosmic order (dharma) is protected through divine energies that act under the supreme governance of Pati (Śiva) in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

By depicting Śakti’s formidable attendants, the text points to Saguna worship where devotees honor Śiva together with His dynamic power (Śakti). In Linga worship, this is remembered as Śiva being the transcendent Lord while His energies manifest as protective forces sustaining creation and defeating adharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva safeguards, cultivating inner steadiness while invoking Śiva-Śakti’s protection amid conflict and fear.