Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

गणेश-षण्मुखयोः विवाहविचारः / Deliberation on the Marriages of Gaṇeśa and Ṣaṇmukha

Devanagari script

समौ द्वावपि सत्पुत्रौ विशेषो नात्र लभ्यते । तस्मात्पणः कृतश्शंदः पुत्रयोरुभयोरपि

Transliteration

samau dvāvapi satputrau viśeṣo nātra labhyate | tasmātpaṇaḥ kṛtaśśaṃdaḥ putrayorubhayorapi

Translation

二人の善き子はともに等しく、ここに差別は見いだせぬ。ゆえに、賭けと定められた取り決めは、両方の子に等しく適用される。

Word by Word

• समौ: equal
• समौ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (of सत्पुत्रौ)

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• अपि: also/indeed
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• सत्पुत्रौ: two good sons
• सत्पुत्रौ: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सन्तौ पुत्रौ = good sons), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• विशेषः: difference
• विशेषः: Karta (कर्ता; subject of लभ्यते)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• लभ्यते: is found/obtained
• लभ्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया; passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is obtained/found)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान; cause/ablative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; अपादानार्थे (ablative sense) ‘therefore/from that’

• पणः: a wager/pledge
• पणः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कृतः: was made
• कृतः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate of पणः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) ‘कृत’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (पणः)

• शन्दः: stipulation/condition
• शन्दः: Karta (कर्ता; appositional/predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (rare/variant reading; sense: agreement/condition)

• पुत्रयोः: of the two sons
• पुत्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; विशेषण (of पुत्रयोः)

• अपि: also/indeed
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक अव्यय (particle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It upholds dharma through impartiality: when virtue is equal, judgment must be free of bias—an ethical foundation that supports inner purity (śuddhi) and right conduct aligned with Shiva’s order (ṛta/dharma).

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

While not directly about the Liṅga, it reflects a key Shaiva ethic: Saguna Shiva’s grace is not arbitrary; devotees are guided to live by fairness and truth, making their worship (pūjā) and vows (vrata/saṅkalpa) spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is integrity in saṅkalpa (vow) and vrata: keep commitments equally and truthfully; accompany worship with steady japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a discipline of honesty and even-mindedness.