Shloka 21

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

भगवान्सर्वलोकेश्शशरण्यो भक्तकामदः । वरेण च्छंदयामास बालेयं तं महासुरम्

Transliteration

bhagavānsarvalokeśśaśaraṇyo bhaktakāmadaḥ | vareṇa cchaṃdayāmāsa bāleyaṃ taṃ mahāsuram

Translation

Bhagavān Śiva, Lord of all worlds—refuge of those who seek shelter and fulfiller of devotees’ rightful desires—then gratified the great asura Bāleya by granting him a boon.

Word by Word

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सर्वलोकेशः: lord of all worlds
• सर्वलोकेशः: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व+लोक+ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां लोकानाम् ईशः)

• शशरण्यः: auspicious refuge-giver
• शशरण्यः: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श+शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (शः = शुभः/शिवः, शरण्यः = शरणदः)

• भक्तकामदः: giver of devotees' desires
• भक्तकामदः: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त+कामद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भक्तानां/भक्तेभ्यः कामान् ददाति)

• वरेण: by a boon
• वरेण: करण (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental/करण), एकवचनम्

• छन्दयामास: gratified/pleased
• छन्दयामास: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Periphrastic perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; causative sense in usage: ‘to please/satisfy’

• बालेयम्: Bāleya (name)
• बालेयम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; विशेष-नाम

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• महासुरम्: the great demon
• महासुरम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā+असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (महान् असुरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bāleya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as śaraṇya—refuge for all—and bhakta-kāmada—one who fulfills devotees’ desires, showing that divine grace responds to surrender and devotion, while still pointing beyond boons toward the higher aim of liberation.

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

It presents Saguna Śiva as the compassionate Lord who actively engages with beings and grants results; in Linga worship, devotees approach this same accessible form of Śiva as refuge, seeking both worldly relief and the inner shift toward Śiva-consciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt śaraṇāgati with daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga-pūjā with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids—asking not only for boons but for devotion and steadiness of mind.