Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

देव्याः क्रोधः शक्तिनिर्माणं च

Devī’s Wrath and the Manifestation of the Śaktis

Devanagari script

सुभगस्सुन्दरतरो गजवक्त्रस्सुरक्तकः । प्रसन्नवदनश्चातिसुप्रभो ललिताकृतिः

Transliteration

subhagassundarataro gajavaktrassuraktakaḥ | prasannavadanaścātisuprabho lalitākṛtiḥ

Translation

Il est très auspicious et d’une beauté sans pareille; au visage d’éléphant, d’une teinte rougeoyante et lumineuse. Le visage serein et gracieux, il resplendit d’un éclat suprême; sa forme est douce et charmante—ainsi est loué le Seigneur Gaṇeśa.

Word by Word

• सुभगः: fortunate/beautiful
• सुभगः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुन्दरतरः: more beautiful
• सुन्दरतरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तरप्-प्रत्यय (comparative): ‘more beautiful’

• गज-वक्त्रः: elephant-faced
• गज-वक्त्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose face is like an elephant’s’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सु-रक्तकः: very red/reddish
• सु-रक्तकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + रक्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रसन्न-वदनः: with a serene face
• प्रसन्न-वदनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘pleasant face’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अति-सुप्रभः: exceedingly radiant
• अति-सुप्रभः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + सुप्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘exceedingly splendid’

• ललित-आकृतिः: of graceful form
• ललित-आकृतिः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललित (प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘graceful form’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (as predicate adjective; underlying subject ‘सः’ understood)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha

FAQs

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

The verse presents Gaṇeśa as the embodiment of auspiciousness and serene radiance—an icon for meditative contemplation that steadies the mind and removes inner obstacles (pāśa) on the path to Shiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha).

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

In Shaiva practice, Gaṇeśa is honored at the beginning of worship so that Linga-pūjā proceeds without hindrance; his pleasing, radiant form supports saguna-upāsanā, preparing the devotee for deeper absorption in Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple dhyāna is implied: visualize Gaṇeśa as elephant-faced, red-hued, and serenely smiling, then begin japa (e.g., “Om Gaṃ Gaṇapataye Namaḥ”) before Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) or Linga worship.