Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 30

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्याकर्ण्य प्रभोर्वाक्यमज्ञात्वाऽज्ञानमोहितः । तदीयनिकटं तात सर्वैरृषिवरैरयाम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityākarṇya prabhorvākyamajñātvā'jñānamohitaḥ | tadīyanikaṭaṃ tāta sarvairṛṣivarairayām

Translation

బ్రహ్ముడు పలికెను—ప్రభువు వాక్యములను ఇలా విని కూడా, అర్థం కానందున అజ్ఞానమోహితుడనై, ఓ తాత, నేను సమస్త ఋషివరులతో కలిసి ఆయన సమీపమునకు వెళ్లితిని।

Word by Word

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

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

• इति: thus
• इति: Prakāra (प्रकार/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कर्ण्/श्रु (धातु-सम्बद्ध) → आकर्ण्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘आ-’ उपसर्ग

• प्रभोः: of the Lord
• प्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अज्ञात्वा: not knowing
• अज्ञात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive) with privative sense by context ‘not knowing’; अव्ययभाव

• अज्ञान-मोहितः: deluded by ignorance
• अज्ञान-मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘अज्ञानेन मोहितः’ = deluded by ignorance; विशेषण (ब्रह्मा)

• तदीय-निकटम्: to his vicinity
• तदीय-निकटम्: Karma (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तदीय (प्रातिपदिक) + निकट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘his vicinity/near place’

• तात: O dear (son)/O dear one
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; स्नेहसम्बोधन

• सर्वैः: with all
• सर्वैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘ऋषिवरैः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ऋषि-वरैः: with the best sages
• ऋषि-वरैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठाः ऋषयः’

• अयाम्: I went
• अयाम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Lord (Prabhu)
• Rishis

FAQs

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

It highlights that merely hearing divine instruction is not enough when the mind is veiled by ajñāna; the seeker must humbly approach the Lord (Pati) for clarity and grace, a key Shaiva Siddhanta theme of removal of impurity through divine aid.

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

Approaching “the Lord” points to turning toward Saguna Shiva—accessible to devotees through proximity, darśana, and worship (including Linga-upāsanā)—so that ignorance is dispelled and meaning is properly realized.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is humble upāsanā: draw near through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), attentive listening (śravaṇa), and seeking guidance in a reverent, surrendered state—so understanding ripens beyond mere hearing.