Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तेषां मुनिश्रेष्ठ महेश्वरः । गणान् भिन्नांस्तदा दृष्ट्वा तेभ्यस्सर्वं न्यवेदयत्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya vacasteṣāṃ muniśreṣṭha maheśvaraḥ | gaṇān bhinnāṃstadā dṛṣṭvā tebhyassarvaṃ nyavedayat

Translation

ब्रह्मा म्हणाले—हे मुनिश्रेष्ठ, त्यांचे वचन ऐकून महेश्वरांनी तेव्हा गण विभक्त झालेले पाहिले आणि त्यांना सर्व विषय नीटपणे सांगून स्पष्ट केला।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-निपात (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having heard’

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (समूहवाचक)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां श्रेष्ठः)

• महेश्वरः: Mahēśvara
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् ईश्वरः)

• गणान्: the attendants/gaṇas
• गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• भिन्नान्: separated/divided
• भिन्नान्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गणान्)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया/अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having seen’

• तेभ्यः: to them
• तेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न्यवेदयत्: informed/communicated
• न्यवेदयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the divine Lord) who restores order among His followers; in Shaiva understanding, harmony arises when all align their will with Maheshvara’s dharma and guidance.

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

It presents Śiva in a Saguna, personal role—hearing, seeing, and instructing—mirroring how devotees approach the Linga as the accessible form through which the Lord grants clarity, unity, and right conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind through japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and cultivate inner concord; this supports disciplined devotion, like wearing rudrākṣa or applying tripuṇḍra with a non-divisive, surrendered attitude.