Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

गणेशविवाहोत्सवः तथा सिद्धि-बुद्धि-सन्तानवर्णनम् | Gaṇeśa’s Wedding Festival and the Progeny of Siddhi & Buddhi

Devanagari script

पितृभ्यां क्रियतास्मैवच्छलं तात विचार्यताम् । स्वस्वामिभ्यां विशेषेण ह्यन्यः किन्न करोति वै

Transliteration

pitṛbhyāṃ kriyatāsmaivacchalaṃ tāta vicāryatām | svasvāmibhyāṃ viśeṣeṇa hyanyaḥ kinna karoti vai

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട്, പുത്രാ! അവന്റെ മാതാപിതാക്കളിലൂടെ തന്നേ ഈ തന്ത്രം ആലോചിച്ച് നടപ്പാക്കുക—നന്നായി വിചാരിക്ക. സ്വന്തം സ്വാമിക്കും സ്വന്തം കാര്യമെന്നതിനും വേണ്ടി മറ്റൊരാൾ ചെയ്യാത്തത് എന്തുണ്ട്?

Word by Word

• पितृभ्याम्: by the two fathers/parents
• पितृभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), द्विवचन

• क्रियताम्: let it be done
• क्रियताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अस्मै: for him/for this one
• अस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis)

• छलम्: a ruse/trick
• छलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तात: O dear one
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• विचार्यताम्: let it be considered
• विचार्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चर् (धातु) + णिच्? (causative sense) / विचार् (धातु-रूपेण)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive/impersonal), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘let it be considered’

• स्व-स्वामिभ्याम्: by (one’s) own masters/lords
• स्व-स्वामिभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य स्वामी’); तृतीया, द्विवचन

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverbial instrumental): ‘especially’

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/प्रमाणार्थ

• अन्यः: another person
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• करोति: does
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa dialogue to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Parents (pitṛ)

FAQs

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

It highlights how worldly attachment and loyalty can drive people toward questionable means; Shaiva teaching cautions that such motives bind the soul (paśu) in pāśa, whereas alignment with Shiva-centered dharma purifies intention.

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

By contrast: Saguna Shiva worship emphasizes purity of resolve (bhāva) and right conduct; the verse depicts worldly strategizing, reminding devotees that true Shiva-bhakti seeks dharma over manipulation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to examine intention before action; devotees may pair self-inquiry with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady the mind in dharma rather than impulse.