Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 46

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

एका प्रचंडरूपं च धृत्वातिष्ठन्महामुने । श्यामपर्वतसंकांशं विस्तीर्य मुखगह्वरम्

Transliteration

ekā pracaṃḍarūpaṃ ca dhṛtvātiṣṭhanmahāmune | śyāmaparvatasaṃkāṃśaṃ vistīrya mukhagahvaram

Translation

O großer Weiser, eine von ihnen nahm eine überaus furchterregende Gestalt an und stand unbewegt; ihr Leib war dunkel wie ein blau-schwarzer Berg, und sie weitete die Höhle ihres Mundes.

Word by Word

• एका: one (of them)
• एका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one (female entity)’

• प्रचण्डरूपम्: a fierce form
• प्रचण्डरूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचण्ड + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्रचण्डं रूपम्/fierce form), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘धृत्वा’ इत्यस्य कर्म

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• धृत्वा: having assumed
• धृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having assumed/held’

• अतिष्ठत्: stood
• अतिष्ठत्: Karta (कर्ता/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामुने: O great sage
• महामुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् मुनिः/great sage), पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• श्यामपर्वतसंकाशम्: like a dark mountain in appearance
• श्यामपर्वतसंकाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम + पर्वत + संकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (श्यामपर्वतवत् संकाशः/appearing like a dark mountain), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘मुखगह्वरम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• विस्तीर्य: having expanded
• विस्तीर्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-स्तॄ (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थक-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having expanded/spread’

• मुखगह्वरम्: the mouth-cavern (gaping mouth)
• मुखगह्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख + गह्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मुखस्य गह्वरम्/cavern of the mouth), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya-imagery (devouring mouth as dissolution motif)

Characters & Entities

• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how divine power can assume awe-inspiring, fear-dissolving forms to subdue adharma; for a devotee, it teaches surrender to Śiva’s governance where even terror becomes a vehicle for protection and purification of the mind.

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

While the Liṅga points to Śiva’s transcendent (nirguṇa) reality, the narrative shows saguna expressions—visible, powerful forms that act in the world—affirming that Liṅga-worship culminates in trusting Śiva’s immanent protection and grace during inner and outer संघर्ष (conflict).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate fearlessness (abhaya) by mentally offering fear into Śiva’s presence, and steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a practical takeaway aligned with Rudra-oriented devotion.