Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 71
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
इदानीं न कुरुष्वेश तां लीलां भक्तवत्सलः । स्वगणानमरांश्चापि सुसन्मान्याभिवर्द्धय
idānīṃ na kuruṣveśa tāṃ līlāṃ bhaktavatsalaḥ | svagaṇānamarāṃścāpi susanmānyābhivarddhaya
इदानीं तां लीलां मा कुरुष्व, ईश, भक्तवत्सल। स्वगणानमरांश्चापि सुसन्मान्याभिवर्द्धय॥
An attendant/deva addressing Lord Shiva (in the Kumārakhaṇḍa narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva as bhaktavatsala—whose freedom (līlā) is always guided by grace. It teaches that divine power is not mere display; it is restrained by compassion and directed toward the upliftment and harmony of Shiva’s gaṇas and the devas, reflecting Shaiva Siddhānta’s emphasis on the Lord’s anugraha (saving grace).
Addressing Shiva as the personal Lord (Saguna Īśa) emphasizes a relational devotion: devotees approach the Linga not only for awe of divine might, but for Shiva’s protective, orderly governance of the cosmos—honoring his attendants and sustaining the devas as part of maintaining dharma.
The practical takeaway is humility and reverence: worship Shiva with bhakti while honoring his retinue (gaṇas) and divine order. In practice, this aligns with respectful pūjā to the Shiva-liṅga, remembrance of Shiva as bhaktavatsala, and disciplined conduct (dharma) alongside japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”