Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 39

दिव्यरथारोहणम् — Śiva’s Ascent on the Divine Chariot

Pre-battle Portents

Devanagari script

इत्याद्या गणपा वीरा बहवोऽपरिमेयकाः । प्रययुः परिवार्येशं लक्ष्यलक्षणवर्जिताः

Transliteration

ityādyā gaṇapā vīrā bahavo'parimeyakāḥ | prayayuḥ parivāryeśaṃ lakṣyalakṣaṇavarjitāḥ

Translation

于是，那些英勇的伽那以及无量无数的同伴，环绕其主而出征；他们离一切可被锁定、可被识别之相，遂在战场上奋然推进。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacanāṅga (वचनाङ्ग/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आद्याः: and others/beginning with these
• आद्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘गणपाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• गणपाः: Gaṇas (attendants)
• गणपाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वीराः: heroes
• वीराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; in apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘गणपाः’ इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम् (apposition)

• बहवः: many
• बहवः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘गणपाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अपरिमेयकाः: immeasurable/countless
• अपरिमेयकाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + parimeya + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-समासभाव (a- = negation) + परिमेय (measurable) + -क (suffix)

• प्रययुः: they went forth
• प्रययुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• परिवार्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√vṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘परिवार्य’ = having surrounded/encircled

• ईशम्: the Lord (Śiva)
• ईशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लक्ष्यलक्षणवर्जिताः: devoid of target and distinguishing marks
• लक्ष्यलक्षणवर्जिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of gaṇapāḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣya + lakṣaṇa + varjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास—‘लक्ष्यलक्षणयोः वर्जिताः’; ‘वर्जित’ = √vṛj/√varj (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows the Gaṇas moving as instruments of Pati (Śiva), protected by His lordship; being “without targetable marks” symbolizes the transcendence of Śiva’s power over ordinary limitation, emphasizing divine refuge (śaraṇāgati) in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

The Gaṇas surround “Īśa,” highlighting Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who protects and governs His attendants; in Linga worship, devotees similarly approach Śiva as the supreme shelter whose presence cannot be reduced to worldly identifiers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as Īśa and recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) for protection and steadiness, cultivating inner “untargetability” by withdrawing from egoic labels and abiding in devotion.