Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

शिवपुत्रजननवर्णनम् — Description of the Birth/Manifestation of Śiva’s Son

Devanagari script

गत्वा शिवा शिवं सम्यक् बोधयामास यत्नतः । अजीजनत्परं पुत्रं गणेशाख्यं मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

gatvā śivā śivaṃ samyak bodhayāmāsa yatnataḥ | ajījanatparaṃ putraṃ gaṇeśākhyaṃ munīśvara

Translation

Alors Śivā (Pārvatī) s’approcha de Śiva et, avec un effort sincère, L’en instruisit pleinement. Ensuite, elle enfanta un fils suprême nommé Gaṇeśa, ô le meilleur des sages.

Word by Word

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having gone’

• śivā: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• śivā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• bodhayāmāsa: awakened / informed
• bodhayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: budh (धातु)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) + लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yatnataḥ: with effort
• yatnataḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from effort’ = ‘with effort’

• ajījanat: produced / gave birth to
• ajījanat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense possible by context ‘caused to be born/produced’

• param: supreme / excellent
• param: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (putram इत्यस्य)

• putram: son
• putram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• gaṇeśa-ākhyam: named Gaṇeśa
• gaṇeśa-ākhyam: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṇeśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गणेश इति आख्या यस्य) = ‘named Gaṇeśa’; विशेषणम् (putram)

• munīśvara: O lord of sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It highlights divine order and conscious intention in sacred manifestation: Śivā acts with deliberate effort, aligns the matter with Śiva, and then a “supreme son” arises—showing that auspicious beginnings and removal of obstacles (Gaṇeśa) proceed from harmony between Śakti (Śivā) and Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse presents Saguna Śiva—Śiva in relational, narrative form—responding within divine household life. In Śaiva practice, devotees approach the Liṅga (the accessible, worshipful form) seeking the same alignment of Śakti and Śiva that grants auspiciousness and clears impediments, a role traditionally associated with Gaṇeśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship by first invoking Gaṇeśa and then offering Liṅga-pūjā with focused intention (yatnataḥ). Meditatively, one may repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to establish inner alignment before any sādhana or vrata.