Shloka 12

The Hymn to Gaṇapati

and the Rule of Worshipping Gaṇeśa First

Devanagari script

बर्हिणं स्वं समारुह्य त्वभिषेकः कृतः क्षणात् । पितरौ प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा लंबोदरधरस्सुधीः

Transliteration

barhiṇaṃ svaṃ samāruhya tvabhiṣekaḥ kṛtaḥ kṣaṇāt | pitarau pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā laṃbodaradharassudhīḥ

Translation

ركب طاووسه الخاص، فأُجري له الأبهشيكا (طقس التتويج) في لحظة. ثم طاف بوالديه طوافَ التعظيم، ومضى الحكيم حامِلًا الربَّ ذا البطن الكبير (غانيشا).

Word by Word

• बर्हिणम्: the peacock
• बर्हिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (own)

• समारुह्य: having mounted
• समारुह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having mounted/ascended’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• अभिषेकः: the consecration/anointing
• अभिषेकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिषेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• कृतः: was performed/done
• कृतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘was done’

• क्षणात्: in an instant
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; काल-अपादान (from a moment)

• पितरौ: the two parents
• पितरौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), द्विवचन

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation
• प्रदक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as object: circumambulation)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having done’

• लम्बोदर-धरः: the bearer of Lambodara (i.e., Gaṇeśa) / one associated with Lambodara
• लम्बोदर-धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘लम्बं उदरं यस्य सः’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे रूढिः; व्यवहारतः ‘लम्बोदर’ (गणेश) + ‘धर’ (bearing/holding)

• सुधीः: the wise one
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; exact dialogue speaker not explicit in this single pāda excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्वभिषेकः → तु अभिषेकः; लंबोदरधरस्सुधीः → लम्बोदर-धरः सुधीः

Characters & Entities

• Peacock (barhiṇa)
• Parents (pitarau)
• Lambodara (Gaṇeśa)

FAQs

What ritual action is highlighted in this verse?

It highlights abhiṣeka (ritual consecration/anointing) and pradakṣiṇā (respectful circumambulation), especially directed toward one’s parents.

Who is ‘Lambodara’ in this context?

Lambodara is a well-known epithet of Gaṇeśa, meaning “pot-bellied.” The compound suggests an association with or bearing of Lambodara.

What ethical or devotional lesson is implied?

The verse implies reverence and gratitude toward parents (shown through pradakṣiṇā) as an essential marker of wisdom and right conduct.