Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । तद्वचस्तु तदा श्रुत्वा लौकिकीं गतिमाश्रितौ । महालीलाकरौ तत्र पितरावूचतुश्च तम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | tadvacastu tadā śrutvā laukikīṃ gatimāśritau | mahālīlākarau tatra pitarāvūcatuśca tam

Translation

ବ୍ରହ୍ମା କହିଲେ: ସେହି ବଚନ ସେତେବେଳେ ଶୁଣି, ଲୌକିକ ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରିଥିବା ସେ ଦୁଇଜଣ—ମହାଦିବ୍ୟ ଲୀଳାର କର୍ତ୍ତା ସେ ପିତାମାତା—ସେଠାରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ କହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative qualifying vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech / words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (वचस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tu: but / then
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (निपात), adversative/emphatic

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (तदा अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having heard’

• laukikīm: worldly
• laukikīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laukikī (लौकिकी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying gatim

• gatim: course / path / state
• gatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (गति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āśritau: (the two) having resorted to
• āśritau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-śri (आश्रि धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); used predicatively: ‘having resorted to’

• mahā-līlā-karau: the two performers of great sport
• mahā-līlā-karau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा) + līlā (लीला) + kara (कर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘doers/performers of great play’

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (तत्र अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of place

• pitarau: the two fathers/parents
• pitarau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ūcatuḥ: said (the two)
• ūcatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन); parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• tam: to him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva idea that divine beings may assume a “worldly” mode as part of līlā—guiding devotees through relatable human roles while remaining inwardly aligned to the supreme Pati (Lord Shiva).

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

By emphasizing līlā and worldly assumption, it supports Saguna devotion: the Supreme is approached through manifest roles and narratives, which ultimately lead the mind toward Shiva’s higher, transcendent reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is contemplative: practice japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while reflecting that worldly events can be Shiva’s līlā, cultivating devotion and detachment together.