Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

स्नानं कृत्वा यथान्यायं समागत्य स्वयं गृहम् । उवाच पितरं तत्र मातरं पुनरेव सः

Transliteration

snānaṃ kṛtvā yathānyāyaṃ samāgatya svayaṃ gṛham | uvāca pitaraṃ tatra mātaraṃ punareva saḥ

Translation

വിധിപ്രകാരം സ്നാനം ചെയ്ത് അവൻ സ്വയം വീട്ടിലെത്തി; അവിടെ വീണ്ടും പിതാവിനെയും മാതാവിനെയും അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്ത് പറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• snānam: bath
• snānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √kṛ ‘to do’

• yathā: according to; as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (यथार्थ/प्रकारवाचक)

• nyāyam: rule; proper procedure
• nyāyam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial accusative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; used adverbially with yathā (यथान्यायम्)

• samāgatya: having arrived
• samāgatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + gam (धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), from √gam with prefixes sam-ā; ‘having come/arrived’

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Karta (कर्ता/Agent emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, reflexive/emphatic adverb (स्वयम्)

• gṛham: home
• gṛham: Gati/Karma (गति-कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; goal of motion

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (perfect), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• pitaram: father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक)

• mātaram: mother
• mātaram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• punar: again
• punar: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (पुनर्)

• eva: indeed; just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic particle (एव-निपात)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga passage; it depicts proper conduct (yathā-nyāya snāna) and respectful address to parents (Śiva and Pārvatī), grounding the divine household in dharmic order.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharmic preparation—purifying oneself through proper bathing before engaging in important speech or action—reflecting the Shaiva emphasis on inner and outer cleanliness as a support for devotion and right conduct.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, approaching Shiva’s presence (often through the Linga) is traditionally preceded by śauca (purity) such as snāna; the narrative models that disciplined purity also governs one’s interactions with elders and family, not only formal temple rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform yathā-nyāya snāna (ritual bath) as preparatory śauca before pūjā, japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), or any serious vow—cultivating steadiness and reverence in mind and body.