Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
ब्रह्मोवाच । एतत्कालेऽप्सरश्रेष्ठाः पुष्पचन्दनपाणयः । ऋषयश्च त्वदाद्या हि येऽतियुद्धेतिलालसाः
brahmovāca | etatkāle'psaraśreṣṭhāḥ puṣpacandanapāṇayaḥ | ṛṣayaśca tvadādyā hi ye'tiyuddhetilālasāḥ
ব্রহ্মা বললেন—সেই সময় শ্রেষ্ঠ অপ্সরাগণ হাতে পুষ্প ও চন্দনলেপ ধারণ করে সেখানে উপস্থিত হলেন। আর তোমাদের থেকে আরম্ভ করে যে ঋষিগণ মহাযুদ্ধ দর্শনে অতিশয় উৎসুক ছিলেন, তাঁরাও সেখানে এলেন।
Brahma
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: celestial assembly converging to witness a world-shaping divine conflict
FAQs
It shows how even celestial beings and realized sages are drawn to the unfolding of divine līlā; witnessing sacred events with reverence becomes a form of bhakti that turns the mind toward Pati (Śiva) rather than worldly fascination.
The mention of flowers and sandal paste reflects standard upacāras offered to Saguna Śiva (and the Śiva-liṅga) in pūjā; devotion is expressed through tangible offerings that support inner remembrance of Śiva’s grace.
Offer gandha (sandal paste) and puṣpa (flowers) to Śiva with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a simple takeaway from the devotional mood implied in the verse.