Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

एवं ज्ञात्वा च कर्त्तव्यः समरश्च गणेश्वराः । भवद्भिस्स्वामिनं दृष्ट्वा मया च मातरं तदा

Transliteration

evaṃ jñātvā ca karttavyaḥ samaraśca gaṇeśvarāḥ | bhavadbhissvāminaṃ dṛṣṭvā mayā ca mātaraṃ tadā

Translation

かく知ったならば、ガネーシュヴァラたちよ、いま戦いに取りかかるべきである。汝らは己が主君を拝し、我もまたその時、聖なる母を拝した。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), √ज्ञा (to know)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कर्तव्यः: to be done / should be done
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi (विधिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्य (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘to be done’

• समरः: battle
• समरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गणेश्वराः: lords of the hosts (gaṇa-leaders)
• गणेश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa): गणस्य ईश्वरः; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• भवद्भिः: by you (all)
• भवद्भिः: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्द (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• स्वामिनम्: the lord/master
• स्वामिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), √दृश् (to see)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-शब्द (pronoun), तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मातरम्: mother
• मातरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse frames righteous action as obedience to Śiva’s will: once truth is known, duty must be performed without hesitation. It also affirms Śiva and the Mother (Devī) as the guiding divine presence behind dharmic action.

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

Though not explicitly about the Liṅga, it reflects Saguna Śiva—Śiva as the personal Lord who directs and protects devotees. Remembering Śiva as Svāmin (Master) supports devotion (bhakti) and surrender, central to Liṅga worship as well.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (inner surrender) before action—begin duties after mentally invoking Śiva and Devī. One may precede work with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a brief salutation to the Mother as Śakti.