Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

एतद्वस्सर्वमाख्यातमन्धकस्य पुरातनम् । गाणपत्यं महादेवप्रसादात्परसौख्यदम्

Transliteration

etadvassarvamākhyātamandhakasya purātanam | gāṇapatyaṃ mahādevaprasādātparasaukhyadam

Translation

Ainsi vous ai-je exposé en entier ce récit ancien d’Andhaka : comment, par la grâce de Mahādeva, il obtint l’état de Gaṇa (gaṇapatya), dispensateur de la béatitude suprême.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• वः: of you / for you
• वः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural (enclitic)

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agreeing with एतत्

• आख्यातम्: has been narrated
• आख्यातम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; used predicatively ‘has been told’

• अन्धकस्य: of Andhaka
• अन्धकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्धक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• पुरातनम्: ancient/old
• पुरातनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; qualifying आख्यातम्/एतत्

• गाणपत्यम्: Gaṇapatya status/affiliation
• गाणपत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाणपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘state/affiliation of Gaṇapati’

• महादेवप्रसादात्: from Mahādeva’s grace
• महादेवप्रसादात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (महादेवस्य प्रसादः)

• परसौख्यदम्: giving supreme happiness
• परसौख्यदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + सौख्य + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective to गाणपत्यम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (परं सौख्यं ददाति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights the salvific power of Mahādeva’s prasāda: even a fallen/bound being can be elevated into Śiva’s gaṇa-sāyujya-like proximity through grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Andhaka
• Mahadeva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It concludes the teaching that Mahādeva’s prasāda (grace) is the decisive cause of para-sukha—supreme, liberating bliss—showing that transformation and elevation come through Śiva’s anugraha rather than mere power or lineage.

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

By highlighting “Mahādeva-prasāda,” the verse points to Saguna Śiva as the compassionate Lord who responds to devotion and grants closeness to His retinue (Gaṇas), a relationship commonly nurtured through Liṅga-worship, pūjā, and remembrance of Śiva’s names.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is reliance on Śiva’s grace through steady bhakti—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Śiva-pūjā (optionally with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) as a discipline of surrender and purification.