Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

द्वारपाल-गणेशसंवादः / The Dialogue at the Gate: Gaṇeśa and Śiva’s Gaṇas

Devanagari script

शिवगणा ऊचुः । श्रूयतां द्वारपाला हि वयं शिवगणा वराः । त्वां निवारयितुं प्राप्ताश्शंकरस्याज्ञया विभोः

Transliteration

śivagaṇā ūcuḥ | śrūyatāṃ dvārapālā hi vayaṃ śivagaṇā varāḥ | tvāṃ nivārayituṃ prāptāśśaṃkarasyājñayā vibhoḥ

Translation

Die Śiva-Gaṇas sprachen: „Hört, o Torwächter! Wir sind die edlen Gefolgsleute Śivas. Auf Befehl Śaṅkaras, des höchsten Herrn, sind wir gekommen, euch zurückzuhalten.“

Word by Word

• शिवगणाः: Śiva’s attendants
• शिवगणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवगण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य गणाः)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रूयताम्: listen; let (this) be heard
• श्रूयताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: ‘let it be heard’)

• द्वारपाल: O door-keeper
• द्वारपाल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्वारस्य पालः)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शिवगणाः: Śiva’s attendants
• शिवगणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवगण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• वराः: excellent; chosen
• वराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• निवारयितुम्: to stop; to restrain
• निवारयितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य (purpose: ‘to restrain/stop’)

• प्राप्ताः: having arrived; come
• प्राप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (Past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (having come/arrived)

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/possession)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• आज्ञया: by the command
• आज्ञया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• विभोः: of the Lord (Vibhu)
• विभोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/epithet relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते (often used as vocative, but here genitive with शंकरस्य)

Speaker

Śiva-gaṇas (attendants of Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s sovereignty as Pati (the Lord) whose command governs even divine guardians, teaching that spiritual order (dharma) is upheld through disciplined service and obedience to Śiva’s will.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva as Śaṅkara who issues direct commands and is served by gaṇas; in Linga-worship, devotees approach Śiva’s presence with reverence, recognizing that access to the sacred is guided by proper conduct and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined bhakti: begin worship by invoking Śiva’s authority with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintaining purity and restraint (niyama) before entering pūjā or meditation.