Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

स जानुभ्यां महीं गत्वा प्रणतः प्रांजलिस्ततः । पार्श्वतो देवदेवस्य पर्यतिष्ठद्गणेश्वरः

Transliteration

sa jānubhyāṃ mahīṃ gatvā praṇataḥ prāṃjalistataḥ | pārśvato devadevasya paryatiṣṭhadgaṇeśvaraḥ

Translation

Dann ging Gaṇeśvara auf die Erde nieder, auf beide Knie; ehrfürchtig verneigt, mit gefalteten Händen, stand er aufmerksam an der Seite des Deva der Devas (Herrn Śiva).

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जानुभ्याम्: with (his) knees
• जानुभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), द्विवचन; करण (instrumental dual)

• महीम्: the earth/ground
• महीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• गत्वा: having gone/approached
• गत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त; क्त्वान्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; ‘having gone/approached’

• प्रणतः: bowed down
• प्रणतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) → प्रणत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); कर्तृवाचक विशेषण

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• प्राञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण; ‘अञ्जलिं कृतवान्’ (hands folded)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• पार्श्वतः: at the side
• पार्श्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पार्श्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• देव-देवस्य: of the God of gods
• देव-देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (देवानां देवः)

• परि-अतिष्ठत्: stood/positioned himself
• परि-अतिष्ठत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: परि

• गण-ईश्वरः: Gaṇeśvara (lord of the gaṇas)
• गण-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (गणानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse depicts gaṇa-bhakti and sevā—Gaṇeśa as gaṇeśvara attending the Lord.

Significance: Models śaraṇāgati (humble surrender) and sevā (attentive service) as preparatory disciplines for receiving Śiva’s anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal of approaching Pati (Śiva) through humility (praṇāma), inner surrender (añjali), and ready service—showing that reverence is itself a purifying discipline for the paśu (individual soul).

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

The verse models saguna-upāsanā: the devotee stands near the Lord with focused attention and devotion, the same posture of mind used in Liṅga worship—presence, reverence, and readiness to serve.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform praṇāma and añjali before Śiva (or the Śiva-liṅga), then remain steady in attentive remembrance; this can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize surrender.