Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

अन्धक-प्रश्नः — Inquiry into Andhaka

Genealogy and Nature

Devanagari script

गाणपत्यं कथं प्राप शंभोः परमतेजसः । सोंधको धन्य एवाति यो वभूव गणेश्वरः

Transliteration

gāṇapatyaṃ kathaṃ prāpa śaṃbhoḥ paramatejasaḥ | soṃdhako dhanya evāti yo vabhūva gaṇeśvaraḥ

Translation

«Comment Sondhaka obtint-il l’état de Gaṇapati par Śambhu, à la splendeur suprême ? En vérité, Sondhaka seul est le plus béni, car il devint le Seigneur des Gaṇas.»

Word by Word

• गाणपत्यम्: the status of Gaṇapati-hood
• गाणपत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाणपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

• प्राप: obtained
• प्राप: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमतेजसः: of the supremely radiant (one)
• परमतेजसः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); समासः कर्मधारय (परमं तेजः यस्य)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• अन्धकः: Andhaka
• अन्धकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• धन्यः: fortunate, blessed
• धन्यः: Karta-visheshana (कर्तृविशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (restrictive particle)

• अति: very, exceedingly
• अति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Intensifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अतिशयार्थक निपात (intensifier)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• गणेश्वरः: lord of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वरः: Karma/Predicate nominative (कर्म/विधेय-प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गणानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganesha
• Sondhaka

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): by the supreme radiance of Śambhu, a devotee can be elevated to a divinely ordained role. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, spiritual rise is ultimately enabled by the Lord (Pati), not merely by personal power.

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

By praising Śambhu as “paramatejas,” the verse points to Saguna Shiva as the accessible bestower of boons and spiritual authority. Such narratives support Linga/Saguna worship as a direct means to receive Shiva’s grace and protection in worldly and spiritual life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is devotion to Śambhu through japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and reverent worship, seeking Shiva’s grace (anugraha) rather than ego-driven attainment.