Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

मद्रक्षको भव सदा मदुपस्थः पुराधिपः । सर्वथा प्रीतिकृन्मे हि ससुतस्सगणः प्रभो

Transliteration

madrakṣako bhava sadā madupasthaḥ purādhipaḥ | sarvathā prītikṛnme hi sasutassagaṇaḥ prabho

Translation

يا ربّ، يا سيّد المدينة، كُن قريبًا منّي دائمًا وكن حاميَني على الدوام. وامنحني بكلّ وجهٍ السرورَ والرضا—مع أبنائك وجموع غَناتك المرافقين، يا مولاي.

Word by Word

• मत्-रक्षकः: my protector
• मत्-रक्षकः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मम रक्षकः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• भव: be
• भव: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), नित्यत्व (always)

• मत्-उपस्थः: attending/near me
• मत्-उपस्थः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + उपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मम उपस्थः = near/attending me), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (त्वम्) इति विशेषण

• पुर-अधिपः: lord of the city
• पुर-अधिपः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पुरस्य अधिपः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वथा: in every way
• सर्वथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), सर्वप्रकारेण (in every way)

• प्रीति-कृत्: one who causes delight/pleasure
• प्रीति-कृत्: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रीतिं करोति इति), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (त्वम्) इति विशेषण

• मे: to me/for me
• मे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान) एकवचन (enclitic)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed)

• स-सुतः: together with (your) sons
• स-सुतः: सहकारक (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘सह’) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (सह सुतैः/सुतैः सहितः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (त्वम्) इति विशेषण

• स-गणः: together with (your) attendants/hosts
• स-गणः: सहकारक (Accompaniment/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ ‘सह’) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (गणैः सहितः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (त्वम्) इति विशेषण

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

A devotee/king addressing Lord Shiva (as Purādhipa) within the Yuddhakhaṇḍa narrative, as relayed by Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It expresses śaraṇāgati (total surrender): the devotee asks Shiva to remain close as the ever-present guardian, showing that grace and protection arise from devotion and reliance on Pati (Shiva) rather than on one’s limited ego.

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

The address “Purādhipa” and the plea for nearness reflect Saguna upāsanā—approaching Shiva as a personal Lord who can be invoked, worshiped (including as the Liṅga), and who actively bestows protection and favor.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-smaraṇa with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while mentally placing oneself under Shiva’s guardianship, optionally supported by Liṅga-pūjā with bhasma and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness in devotion.