Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

गणेशोत्पत्ति-प्रसङ्गः / Episode on the Origin of Gaṇeśa (Śvetakalpa Account)

Devanagari script

आयांतं शंकरं दृष्ट्वाऽसमये जगदंबिका । उत्तस्थौ मज्जती सा वै लज्जिता सुन्दरी तदा

Transliteration

āyāṃtaṃ śaṃkaraṃ dṛṣṭvā'samaye jagadaṃbikā | uttasthau majjatī sā vai lajjitā sundarī tadā

Translation

आयान्तं शंकरं दृष्ट्वा असमये जगदम्बिका। मज्जन्ती सा तदा तूर्णम् उत्तस्थौ लज्जिता शुभा॥

Word by Word

• आयान्तम्: coming/approaching
• आयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + या (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शंकरम् इति विशेष्य

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya (अनुक्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• असमये: at an improper time
• असमये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कालवाचक

• जगदम्बिका: Jagadambikā (Mother of the world)
• जगदम्बिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः अम्बिका)

• उत्तस्थौ: stood up/rose
• उत्तस्थौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मज्जती: (she) bathing/immersing
• मज्जती: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मज्ज् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सा इति विशेषणवत्

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• लज्जिता: ashamed
• लज्जिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लज्जित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle) from √लज्ज्; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सा इति विशेषण

• सुन्दरी: beautiful (woman)
• सुन्दरी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सा इति विशेषण

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Sūta Goswāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It portrays the Saguna līlā of Śiva and Jagadambikā, showing divine intimacy governed by maryādā (propriety). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, even the Lord’s playful acts teach refinement of conduct and purity (śauca) that supports devotion and steadiness of mind.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva as a personal Lord who engages lovingly with the Goddess. Linga-worship likewise trains the devotee to approach Śiva with reverence, purity, and disciplined attention—seeing the personal Lord through symbol and presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śauca (cleanliness) and mindful modesty before worship: bathe, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Śiva, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind before pūjā or japa.