Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । तयोरेवं वचः श्रुत्वा शिवाशंकरयोर्मुने । महाबुद्धिनिधिः पुत्रो गणेशो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | tayorevaṃ vacaḥ śrutvā śivāśaṃkarayormune | mahābuddhinidhiḥ putro gaṇeśo vākyamabravīt

Translation

ବ୍ରହ୍ମା କହିଲେ: ହେ ମୁନି! ଶିବା ଓ ଶଙ୍କରଙ୍କ ଏପରି ବଚନ ଶୁଣି, ମହାବୁଦ୍ଧିର ଅକ୍ଷୟ ନିଧି ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର ଗଣେଶ ସେତେବେଳେ କଥା 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

• tayoḥ: of those two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• evam: thus
• evam: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (एवम् अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of manner

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

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

• śiva-śaṃkarayoḥ: of Śiva and Śaṅkara
• śiva-śaṃkarayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव) + śaṃkara (शंकर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); itaretara-dvandva: ‘of Śiva and Śaṅkara’

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (मुनि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-buddhi-nidhiḥ: the treasure of great intellect
• mahā-buddhi-nidhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (महा) + buddhi (बुद्धि) + nidhi (निधि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘treasure of great intelligence’

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (पुत्र प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• gaṇeśaḥ: Gaṇeśa
• gaṇeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇeśa (गणेश प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vākyam: a statement / speech
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (वाक्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• abravīt: said / spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (ब्रू धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Shiva
• Parvati
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It marks a transition where divine wisdom is conveyed through Gaṇeśa after he listens to Śiva and Pārvatī—showing that true instruction arises from śravaṇa (reverent listening) and that the Lord’s grace can flow through the Gaṇas and the divine family to guide devotees.

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

By naming Śaṅkara and Śivā in a living dialogue, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva as the personal Lord who speaks, listens, and instructs. Such narratives support devotional approach to Śiva (including Liṅga-worship) where the devotee first hears the Lord’s teachings and then acts accordingly.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is śravaṇa and manana: listen attentively to Śiva-kathā and reflect before speaking or acting. A fitting Shaiva takeaway is to begin recitation with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and then study the Purāṇa with focused attention.