Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

गौरीप्रवेशः—शिवसाक्षात्कारः

Gaurī’s Entry and the Vision of Śiva

Devanagari script

बिभ्रद्वेत्रलतां हैमीं रत्नचित्रं च कंचुकम् । छुरिकामुरगप्रख्यां गणेशो रक्षवेषधृक्

Transliteration

bibhradvetralatāṃ haimīṃ ratnacitraṃ ca kaṃcukam | churikāmuragaprakhyāṃ gaṇeśo rakṣaveṣadhṛk

Translation

Ganeśa, assuming the guise of a guard, bore a golden, creeper-like staff and a gem-adorned cuirass, and he carried a dagger gleaming like a serpent.

Word by Word

• बिभ्रत्: bearing
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘bearing’

• वेत्र-लताम्: a cane-staff/creeper-like cane
• वेत्र-लताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेत्रस्य लता)

• हैमīm: golden
• हैमīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• रत्न-चित्रम्: adorned with jewels
• रत्न-चित्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रत्नैः चित्रम्/रत्न-चित्रितम्)

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

• कंचुकम्: a tunic/armor-jacket
• कंचुकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंचुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• छुरिकाम्: a dagger
• छुरिकाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छुरिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उरग-प्रख्याम्: resembling a serpent
• उरग-प्रख्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उरगवत् प्रख्या)

• गणेशः: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रक्ष-वेष-धृक्: wearing the guise of a guard
• रक्ष-वेष-धृक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष समास; ‘धृक्’ = क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun) ‘धारयिता’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Gaṇeśa’s role as a divinely appointed protector—symbolizing that access to Śiva’s sacred sphere is safeguarded by dharma, discipline, and the Lord’s own grace working through His attendants.

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

As a guardian figure, Gaṇeśa represents the protective boundary around Saguna Śiva’s sanctity (temple, vrata, and pūjā). Devotion is not casual entry but reverent approach—often traditionally beginning with Gaṇeśa-vandana before Śiva worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin Śiva-pūjā with Gaṇeśa invocation and then proceed with disciplined worship—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintaining purity through vrata-like restraint, reflecting the guarded sanctity shown in the verse.