Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot

Pre-battle Portents

Devanagari script

शताक्षश्चैव पंचाक्षः सहस्राक्षो महोदरः । सतीजहुश्शतास्यश्च रंकः कर्पूरपूतनः

Transliteration

śatākṣaścaiva paṃcākṣaḥ sahasrākṣo mahodaraḥ | satījahuśśatāsyaśca raṃkaḥ karpūrapūtanaḥ

Translation

战阵之中亦现圣主湿婆之众伽那：名为百目（Śatākṣa）、五目（Pañcākṣa）、千目（Sahasrākṣa）、大腹（Mahodara）；又有萨蒂贾胡（Satījahu）、百面（Śatāsya）、兰迦（Raṅka）与樟脑普塔那（Karpūrapūtana）等，皆为湿婆眷属之猛士。

Word by Word

• शताक्षः: the hundred-eyed one
• शताक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name/epithet in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘शतम् अक्षाणि यस्य’ (having a hundred eyes)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पञ्चाक्षः: the five-eyed one
• पञ्चाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘पञ्च अक्षाणि यस्य’ (having five eyes)

• सहस्राक्षः: the thousand-eyed one
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘सहस्रम् अक्षाणि यस्य’ (having a thousand eyes)

• महोदरः: the big-bellied one
• महोदरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + udara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘महान् उदरः’ (big-bellied)

• सतीजहुः: (epithet; uncertain reading)
• सतीजहुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satī + jahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—अर्थः अनिश्चित/पाठभेदसम्भवः; सम्भाव्य-विग्रहः ‘सतीं जहाति’/‘सतीं जहुः’ इत्यादि (epithet; textual uncertainty)

• शतास्यः: the hundred-faced one
• शतास्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘शतम् आस्यं यस्य’ (having a hundred faces/mouths)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रंकः: the poor/wretched one (name/epithet)
• रंकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṃka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कर्पूरपूतनः: camphor-pure one
• कर्पूरपूतनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karpūra + pūtana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘कर्पूरवत् पूतनः/शुद्धः’ (camphor-like pure/fragrant; epithet)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā war account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Shiva’s all-encompassing sovereignty: innumerable ganas with awe-inspiring forms serve the Pati (Lord Shiva), reminding devotees that divine order and protection operate through Shiva’s cosmic retinue.

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

Though the Linga points to Shiva’s transcendence (Nirguṇa), this verse highlights Saguna Shiva—His manifest power expressed through ganas—supporting devotional remembrance that the formless is also present as guiding, protective divine forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to pair japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhāvanā of Shiva’s protective presence—invoking His guardianship, especially during Mahāśivarātri vrata, while maintaining humility and surrender.