Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा तद्वचनं तौ च दंपती जगतां प्रभू । लौकिकाचारमाश्रित्य विस्मयं परमं गतौ

Transliteration

śrutvā tadvacanaṃ tau ca daṃpatī jagatāṃ prabhū | laukikācāramāśritya vismayaṃ paramaṃ gatau

Translation

அவ்வார்த்தைகளை கேட்டதும், உலகங்களின் ஆண்டவர்களான அந்த தெய்வத் தம்பதியர், உலக மரபை ஏற்று, பேராச்சரியத்தில் ஆழ்ந்தனர்.

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म; object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (pronoun-adjective)

• वचनम्: speech/statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म; object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• दम्पती: the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पती: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• प्रभू: the two lords
• प्रभू: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• लौकिकाचारम्: worldly custom/conduct
• लौकिकाचारम्: Karma (कर्म; object of gerund)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लौकिक + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (लौकिकः आचारः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having resorted to/depending on’

• विस्मयम्: astonishment
• विस्मयम्: Karma (कर्म; object/attainment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme/greatest
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म; object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of विस्मयम्)

• गतौ: went/attained
• गतौ: Karta (कर्ता; predicate of subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) ‘गत’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; भावे/कर्तरि प्रयोगः (as predicate adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages, describing Shiva and Parvati)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It shows that even the supreme Pati (Shiva) and His Shakti (Parvati), though transcendental, participate in worldly decorum to guide beings—revealing that dharma and humility can be upheld while remaining rooted in divine awareness.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s accessible presence: the Lord enters human-like conduct and relationship (as the divine couple) so devotees can approach Him through reverence, ritual, and devotion—just as the Linga makes the formless reality approachable in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-smaraṇa with humility: maintain clean, dharmic conduct (laukika-ācāra) while doing japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), cultivating vismaya—reverent wonder—before the Linga during daily pūjā.