Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ श्राविता सुकथाद्भुता । भवतानुग्रहात्प्रीत्या शभ्वनुग्रहनिर्भरा

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | sanatkumāra sarvajña śrāvitā sukathādbhutā | bhavatānugrahātprītyā śabhvanugrahanirbharā

Translation

வியாசர் கூறினார்: ஓ சனத்குமாரரே, அனைத்தையும் அறிந்தவரே! உங்கள் அருளால் அன்புடன் நான் இந்த அதிசயமான, சிறந்த புனிதக் கதையை கேட்டேன்; இது சம்பு (சிவன்) அருளால் நிரம்பியது.

Word by Word

• व्यास: Vyāsa
• व्यास: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथम), Singular (एकवचन)

• सनत्कुमार: O Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat-kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) proper name; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative Singular (सम्बोधन एकवचन)

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva-jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘all-knowing’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative Singular (सम्बोधन एकवचन); adjective to सनत्कुमार

• श्राविता: has been made to be heard
• श्राविता: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Causative PPP (णिजन्त-क्त), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); passive: ‘has been caused to be heard’

• सुकथा: the good discourse
• सुकथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) ‘good story/discourse’; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन)

• अद्भुता: wonderful
• अद्भुता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); adjective to सुकथा

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवत्)
• Form: Honorific pronoun (भवत्), Masculine, Instrumental Singular (3rd/तृतीया एकवचन)

• अनुग्रहात्: from (your) favor
• अनुग्रहात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative Singular (5th/पञ्चमी एकवचन)

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental Singular (3rd/तृतीया एकवचन); adverbial use

• शभ्वनुग्रहनिर्भरा: filled with Śambhu’s grace
• शभ्वनुग्रहनिर्भरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabhva (प्रातिपदिक) + anugraha (प्रातिपदिक) + nirbharā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (Multi-member) Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound: शभ्वस्य अनुग्रहः तेन निर्भरा; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative Singular (प्रथमा एकवचन); adjective to सुकथा/श्राविता (context)

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva-kathā as śivānugraha-saturated: hearing (śravaṇa) itself is treated as a grace-bearing pilgrimage of consciousness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanatkumara
• Vyasa

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) as a gateway to Śiva’s anugraha—grace that ripens the soul toward liberation, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis.

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

By praising a kathā “filled with Śambhu’s grace,” the verse points to Saguna Śiva’s compassionate accessibility—approached through names, stories, and worship (including Liṅga-bhakti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana and Shiva-kathā with devotion, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a practical takeaway.