Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा प्रविशंतं तं महेशं गणनायकः । क्रोधं कृत्वा ततो विप्र दंडेनाताडयत्पुनः

Transliteration

ityuktvā praviśaṃtaṃ taṃ maheśaṃ gaṇanāyakaḥ | krodhaṃ kṛtvā tato vipra daṃḍenātāḍayatpunaḥ

Translation

ครั้นกล่าวดังนั้นแล้ว เมื่อมหेशะกำลังจะก้าวเข้าไป หัวหน้าแห่งคณะคณะ (คณะ-นายกะ)—โอ้พราหมณ์—ก็โกรธจัดและตีท่านอีกครั้งด้วยไม้เท้า

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उक्त्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having said’

• प्रविशन्तम्: entering
• प्रविशन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) ‘प्रविशन्’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘entering’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महेशम्: Mahesha (Śiva)
• महेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक: महा + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘Great Lord (Śiva)’

• गणनायकः: the leader of the gaṇas
• गणनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणनायक (प्रातिपदिक: गण + नायक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘leader of the gaṇas’

• क्रोधम्: anger
• क्रोधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having made (having become)
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having done/made’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Deśa/Kāla-adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (then/from there)

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधन

• दण्डेन: with a staff
• दण्डेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अताडयत्: struck
• अताडयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘struck/beat’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘again’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahesha
• Ganesha

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s līlā where even the Supreme (Pati) accepts apparent obstruction to reveal humility, dharma, and the ordered functioning of His own gaṇas—teaching devotees that divine governance includes discipline and restraint.

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

The episode emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s accessible, personal form—He participates in worldly-like situations for the devotee’s instruction. Such narratives support bhakti-based worship (including Liṅga worship) where the Lord is near, responsive, and pedagogical.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined gatekeeping of the mind: before pūjā or japa, establish niyama (restraint), then perform pañcākṣarī-japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with reverence, treating the threshold to worship as sacred.