Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 56

द्वारपाल-गणेशसंवादः / The Dialogue at the Gate: Gaṇeśa and Śiva’s Gaṇas

Devanagari script

तत्सर्वं तु तदा श्रुत्वा वृत्तं तत्स्वगणोदितम् । लौकिकीं वृत्तिमाश्रित्य शंकरो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

tatsarvaṃ tu tadā śrutvā vṛttaṃ tatsvagaṇoditam | laukikīṃ vṛttimāśritya śaṃkaro vākyamabravīt

Translation

そのとき、従者のガナたちが申し上げた一切の顛末を聞き終えると、シャンカラは外には世俗の振る舞いを装い、次の言葉を語った。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of सर्वम्)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; कर्मपद (object of श्रुत्वा)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-निपात (particle ‘but/indeed’)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala/Time (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb ‘then’)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala/Preceding action (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having heard’

• वृत्तम्: the event/matter
• वृत्तम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; ‘what happened’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of स्वगणोदितम्)

• स्व-गण-उदितम्: spoken by his own attendants
• स्व-गण-उदितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √वद्/√उद्? here ‘said’ sense)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वगणेन उदितम् = spoken by his own gaṇas)

• लौकिकीम्: worldly/common
• लौकिकीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of वृत्तिम्)

• वृत्तिम्: conduct/attitude
• वृत्तिम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having adopted
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala/Preceding action (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having resorted to/assuming’

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st) एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: a statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd) एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya/Action (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva’s grace in action: though transcendent (Pati beyond worldly bonds), he adopts a conventional, approachable manner so beings can understand guidance and be led toward dharma and liberation.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva—God with form and accessible speech—who engages the world for devotees’ uplift. This complements Linga worship where the formless is approached through a sacred, worshipable symbol and compassionate instruction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to listen (śravaṇa) to Śiva-kathā with attention and then align daily conduct with dharma while remembering Śiva through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).