Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

द्वारपाल-गणेशसंवादः / The Dialogue at the Gate: Gaṇeśa and Śiva’s Gaṇas

Devanagari script

गणेश उवाच । अहं च गिरिजासूनुर्यूयं शिवगणास्तथा । उभये समतां प्राप्ताः कर्तव्यं क्रियतां पुनः

Transliteration

gaṇeśa uvāca | ahaṃ ca girijāsūnuryūyaṃ śivagaṇāstathā | ubhaye samatāṃ prāptāḥ kartavyaṃ kriyatāṃ punaḥ

Translation

Sinabi ni Gaṇeśa: “Ako man ay anak ni Girijā, at kayo’y tunay na mga gaṇa ni Śiva. Kapwa panig ay umabot na sa pagkakapantay; kaya gawin nating muli ang nararapat gawin, nang makatarungan at wasto.”

Word by Word

• गणेशः: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्तृ-निर्देश

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गिरिजासूनुः: son of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजासूनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गिरिजायाः सूनुः’

• यूयम्: you (all)
• यूयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शिवगणाः: Śiva’s attendants
• शिवगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘शिवस्य गणाः’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीतिवाचक अव्यय (also/likewise)

• उभये: both parties
• उभये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Dual)

• समताम्: equality
• समताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्ताः: have attained
• प्राप्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (Past Active Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having attained’

• कर्तव्यम्: what should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/Obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be done’

• क्रियताम्: let (it) be done
• क्रियताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘let it be done’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक अव्यय (again)

Speaker

Ganesha

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Parvati
• Shiva
• Shiva Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes dharmic resolution: when opposing sides stand on equal footing, right action should be redone with fairness, restoring harmony within Śiva’s sacred order (gaṇa-dharma).

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

By identifying the gaṇas as Śiva’s own attendants and himself as Girijā’s son, Gaṇeśa points to Saguna Śiva’s living divine household—devotees honor the Liṅga while also honoring Śiva’s devotees and retinue, maintaining reverence and proper conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with reconciliation and right intention—offer obeisance to Gaṇeśa and Śiva, then proceed with mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a mind free from hostility.