Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28

गणेशोत्पत्ति-प्रसङ्गः / Episode on the Origin of Gaṇeśa (Śvetakalpa Account)

Devanagari script

मुखमाचुंब्य सुप्रीत्यालिंग्य तं कृपया सुतम् । स्वद्वारि स्थापयामास यष्टिपाणिं गणाधिपम्

Transliteration

mukhamācuṃbya suprītyāliṃgya taṃ kṛpayā sutam | svadvāri sthāpayāmāsa yaṣṭipāṇiṃ gaṇādhipam

Translation

Baisant son visage et l’étreignant avec tendresse et compassion, elle plaça Gaṇeśa—seigneur des Gaṇas—à sa propre porte, le bâton en main, comme gardien.

Word by Word

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आचुम्ब्य: having kissed
• आचुम्ब्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चुम्ब् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; धातु: चुम्ब् (to kiss) उपसर्ग: आ-

• सुप्रीत्या: with great affection
• सुप्रीत्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• आलिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• आलिङ्ग्य: Kriya (क्रिया/Non-finite verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-लिङ्ग् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; धातु: लिङ्ग् (to embrace) उपसर्ग: आ-

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सुतम्: son
• सुतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्वद्वारि: at (her) own door
• स्वद्वारि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-द्वार (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + द्वार)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य द्वारम्)

• स्थापयामास: placed, stationed
• स्थापयामास: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Periphrastic Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense from √स्था via स्थापय- (to cause to stand/place)

• यष्टिपाणिम्: the staff-in-hand (one holding a staff)
• यष्टिपाणिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यष्टि-पाणि (प्रातिपदिक; यष्टि + पाणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यष्टिः यस्य पाणौ/यष्टिं धारयति)

• गणाधिपम्: lord of the gaṇas
• गणाधिपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण-अधिप (प्रातिपदिक; गण + अधिप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानाम् अधिपः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights compassionate divine love and the principle of sacred boundary-keeping: the Goddess establishes protection at the threshold, symbolizing disciplined guardianship over what enters one’s inner life (mind and senses) on the path of bhakti toward Pati (Śiva).

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

This is a Saguna (personal) līlā within Śiva’s divine family context, showing how devotion and order are upheld around the sacred space. Such narratives support Linga worship by emphasizing purity, reverence, and regulated access to the sanctum—outer and inner.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is “dvāra-rakṣaṇa” as inner discipline: before japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), guard the senses, maintain cleanliness, and keep a focused boundary (niyama) like a watchful gatekeeper.