Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats

Devanagari script

यावत्स देवेशो गणान्पप्रच्छ सादरम् । तावद्गणवरास्ते हि समायाताः प्रभुं प्रति

Transliteration

yāvatsa deveśo gaṇānpapraccha sādaram | tāvadgaṇavarāste hi samāyātāḥ prabhuṃ prati

Translation

神々の主がガナたちに恭しく問いかけているその時、ガナの中でも最も優れた者たちが、ただちに主の御前へと馳せ参じた。

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as/when
• yāvat: Kāla/Pramāṇa (काल/प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, correlative adverb (यावत्-तावत्)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• deva-īśaḥ: lord of the gods
• deva-īśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘devānām īśaḥ’

• gaṇān: the attendants
• gaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• papraccha: asked
• papraccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-ādarām: respectfully
• sa-ādarām: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) used adverbially; ‘with respect’

• tāvat: then/so long
• tāvat: Kāla/Pramāṇa (काल/प्रमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, correlative adverb (यावत्-तावत्)

• gaṇa-varāḥ: the best of the gaṇas
• gaṇa-varāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘gaṇeṣu varāḥ’ (best among the gaṇas)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात)

• samāyātāḥ: having come/arrived
• samāyātāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-yā (धातु) → samāyāta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त, PPP-like intransitive), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with te/gaṇa-varāḥ

• prabhum: the lord/master
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prati: towards
• prati: Gati/Direction (गति/दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prati (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, preposition-like particle (उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय) governing accusative

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights the disciplined devotion (sevā-bhāva) of Shiva’s gaṇas—when the Lord inquires, they respond immediately, illustrating how alignment with Pati (Shiva) brings order, readiness, and right action on the spiritual path.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Shiva—Shiva as the personal Lord (Prabhu) who guides and commands. Just as gaṇas turn toward their Master, devotees turn toward the Linga as the accessible form of Shiva for reverent attention, obedience, and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is attentive, reverent japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—done with readiness to act dharmically; offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and maintaining a sevā attitude mirrors the gaṇas’ prompt responsiveness.