Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ श्राविता सुकथाद्भुता । भवतानुग्रहात्प्रीत्या शभ्वनुग्रहनिर्भरा

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | sanatkumāra sarvajña śrāvitā sukathādbhutā | bhavatānugrahātprītyā śabhvanugrahanirbharā

Translation

Vyāsa sprach: „O Sanatkumāra, Allwissender! Durch deine gnädige Gunst hast du mich voller Freude diese wunderbare und erhabene heilige Erzählung hören lassen, die ganz von der Gnade Śambhus (des Herrn Śiva) erfüllt ist.“

Word by Word

• व्यास: Vyāsa
• व्यास: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथम), Singular (एकवचन)

• सनत्कुमार: O Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat-kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative Singular (सम्बोधन एकवचन)

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘all-knowing’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative Singular (सम्बोधन एकवचन); adjective to सनत्कुमार

• श्राविता: has been made to be heard
• श्राविता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Causative PPP (णिजन्त-क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); passive: ‘has been caused to be heard’

• सुकथा: the good discourse
• सुकथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘good story/discourse’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन)

• अद्भुता: wonderful
• अद्भुता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); adjective to सुकथा

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवत्)
• Form: Honorific pronoun (भवत्), Masculine, Instrumental Singular (3rd/तृतीया एकवचन)

• अनुग्रहात्: from (your) favor
• अनुग्रहात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative Singular (5th/पञ्चमी एकवचन)

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental Singular (3rd/तृतीया एकवचन); adverbial use

• शभ्वनुग्रहनिर्भरा: filled with Śambhu’s grace
• शभ्वनुग्रहनिर्भरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabhva (प्रातिपदिक) + anugraha (प्रातिपदिक) + nirbharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Multi-member) Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: शभ्वस्य अनुग्रहः तेन निर्भरा; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); adjective to सुकथा/श्राविता (context)

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva-kathā as śivānugraha-saturated: hearing (śravaṇa) itself is treated as a grace-bearing pilgrimage of consciousness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) as a gateway to Śiva’s anugraha—grace that ripens the soul toward liberation, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis.

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

By praising a kathā “filled with Śambhu’s grace,” the verse points to Saguna Śiva’s compassionate accessibility—approached through names, stories, and worship (including Liṅga-bhakti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana and Shiva-kathā with devotion, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a practical takeaway.