Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

ततः क्रीडाविहारे तु मत्तो बालेन्दुशेखरः । अनिर्जितेन कामेन दृष्टाः प्रोवाच नन्दिनम्

Transliteration

tataḥ krīḍāvihāre tu matto bālenduśekharaḥ | anirjitena kāmena dṛṣṭāḥ provāca nandinam

Translation

তাৰ পাছত ক্ৰীড়াবিহাৰৰ সময় বালেন্দুশেখৰ (চন্দ্ৰকলাধাৰী শিৱ) লীলাৰসে মত্ত হ’ল; কাম এতিয়াও জয় হোৱা নাছিল—সেয়া দেখি তেওঁ নন্দীক ক’লে।

Word by Word

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), तस्मात्/ततः = 'thereafter/from that' (adverb)

• क्रीडा-विहारे: in play and sport
• क्रीडा-विहारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krīḍā (प्रातिपदिक) + vihāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); समासः द्वन्द्व (copulative)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• मत्तः: intoxicated/inebriated
• मत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• बाल-इन्दु-शेखरः: Bālenduśekhara (Śiva)
• बाल-इन्दु-शेखरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + śekhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'bāla-indu' as qualifier of śekhara

• अनिर्जितेन: by the unconquered
• अनिर्जितेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anirjita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण

• कामेन: by desire/lust
• कामेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• दृष्टाः: having seen
• दृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) → dṛṣṭa (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); 'having been seen/seen' (contextually: 'having seen')

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• नन्दिनम्: to Nandin
• नन्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Līlā-frame: the Lord participates in worldly rasa while remaining Īśvara; ‘anirjita-kāma’ functions as narrative tirodhāna—concealment of transcendence for play.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It shows that even within divine līlā, the text highlights the theme of mastering kāma (desire). In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, the devotee learns to move from impulse toward disciplined devotion, letting Śiva guide the transformation of the mind.

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

The epithet Bālenduśekhara emphasizes Śiva’s accessible, Saguna form for devotion. Remembering such forms in Linga-worship steadies attention and gradually refines desire into bhakti directed toward Pati (Śiva), rather than outward craving.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with restraint of the senses, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to conquer inner agitation and keep the mind anchored in Śiva.