Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

द्वारपाल-गणेशसंवादः / The Dialogue at the Gate: Gaṇeśa and Śiva’s Gaṇas

Devanagari script

इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य गिरिजातनयस्य हि । परस्परमथोचुस्ते शंकरस्य गणास्तदा

Transliteration

ityākarṇya vacastasya girijātanayasya hi | parasparamathocuste śaṃkarasya gaṇāstadā

Translation

Ayant ainsi entendu les paroles du fils de Girijā, les Gaṇas de Śaṅkara se parlèrent alors entre eux.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√कर्ण्/कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having heard’

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भे), षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गिरिजातनयस्य: of the son of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजातनयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा-तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरिजायाः तनयः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ-निपात (indeed/for)

• परस्परम्: to one another
• परस्परम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘mutually/to one another’)

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

• ऊचुः: they said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• शंकरस्य: of Śaṅkara
• शंकरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• गणाः: attendants/gaṇas
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: ‘then’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the events to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kartikeya
• Shiva Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śravaṇa (reverent listening) and collective alignment with dharma: Śiva’s Gaṇas first hear Kartikeya’s instruction and then deliberate together, showing disciplined service to Pati (Śiva) through obedience and unity.

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

By portraying Śiva’s personal attendants responding to a divine command, the verse reinforces Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who leads a living divine order; devotion to the Liṅga similarly trains the devotee in attentive listening, surrender, and service to Śiva’s will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is śravaṇa and sevā-bhāva: listen to śāstra and guru-instruction with focus, then act in harmony; in Shaiva practice this is supported by daily japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a service-oriented resolve.