Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ ते समनुज्ञप्ता गणेशा निर्ययुर्मुदा । स्वंस्वं बलमुपादाय तान् कथंचिद्वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | atha te samanujñaptā gaṇeśā niryayurmudā | svaṃsvaṃ balamupādāya tān kathaṃcidvadāmyaham

Translation

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਫਿਰ ਉਹ ਗਣੇਸ਼ (ਸ਼ਿਵਗਣ) ਆਗਿਆ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਖੁਸ਼ੀ ਨਾਲ ਰਵਾਨਾ ਹੋਏ। ਹਰ ਇੱਕ ਆਪਣੀ-ਆਪਣੀ ਸ਼ਕਤੀ ਨਾਲ; ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਰਣਨ ਮੈਂ ਯਥਾਸਮਰਥ ਕਰਦਾ ਹਾਂ।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence/then)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• समनुज्ञप्ता: having been permitted
• समनुज्ञप्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+अनु+ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘अनुज्ञात’ = permitted/allowed

• गणेशाः: the Gaṇeśas (attendants)
• गणेशाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• निर्ययुः: went out/departed
• निर्ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्+या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भाववाचक—‘with joy’

• स्वम्: one’s own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वम्: each (his) own
• स्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति—‘each his own’

• बलम्: strength/force
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उपादाय: having taken
• उपादाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+आ+दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); ‘having taken’

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथंचित्: somehow/in some manner
• कथंचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथंचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb)

• वदामि: I tell/say
• वदामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It highlights divine order and dharmic authorization: even powerful beings act only after proper permission, reflecting Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on disciplined service to the Lord’s will rather than ego-driven power.

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

The verse depicts the functioning of Shiva’s sacred cosmos through appointed hosts; in Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga worship), devotees honor not only Shiva’s form but also His divinely governed retinue and the principle of obedient service (śeṣatva/bhakti) within His domain.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with proper sankalpa and permission-seeking (āvāhana, prārthanā), then proceed with disciplined japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an act of authorized, humble service.