Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

अथ सर्वेश्वरस्तत्र शंकरो मुनिसत्तम । विहस्य गिरिजानाथो ब्रह्माणं मामुवाच ह

Transliteration

atha sarveśvarastatra śaṃkaro munisattama | vihasya girijānātho brahmāṇaṃ māmuvāca ha

Translation

Alors, ô le meilleur des sages, là même Śaṅkara, le Seigneur de tout, sourit; et l’Époux de Girijā (Pārvatī) s’adressa à moi, Brahmā.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भ/अनन्तर-निपात (particle: ‘then/now’)

• सर्वेश्वरः: Lord of all
• सर्वेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषाम् ईश्वरः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुनिसत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनिसत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां सत्तमः)

• विहस्य: having smiled
• विहस्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having laughed/smiled’

• गिरिजानाथः: lord of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजानाथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गिरिजायाः नाथः)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā (as object)
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Brahma (narrating; Shiva is about to speak within the verse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Sarveśvara (the supreme Lord) whose grace is shown through a gentle smile before instruction—indicating compassionate guidance from Pati (the Lord) toward the cosmic functions represented by Brahmā.

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

The verse presents Śiva in a personal, relational form (Girijānātha, Śaṅkara), supporting Saguna devotion where the Lord communicates, blesses, and guides—an essential devotional mood also expressed in Liṅga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to approach Śiva’s teachings with humility and receptivity—beginning japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating Śiva as Sarveśvara, the compassionate guide.