Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship
नारादाद्यानृषीन्सर्वान्सत्वास्थाय पुरोऽब्रवीत् । क्षंतव्यश्चापराधो मे मानश्चैवेदृशो नृणाम्
nārādādyānṛṣīnsarvānsatvāsthāya puro'bravīt | kṣaṃtavyaścāparādho me mānaścaivedṛśo nṛṇām
تب اُس نے دل کو سنبھال کر نارَد وغیرہ تمام رِشیوں سے روبرو کہا— “میرے قصور کو معاف کیجیے؛ انسانوں میں ایسا ہی غرور اُبھرتا ہے۔”
Kartikeya (Skanda/Kumara)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It teaches that spiritual authority is safeguarded by humility: even a great divine leader acknowledges fault, returns to sattva (clarity), and seeks forgiveness—an essential Shaiva discipline for dissolving ego (ahaṅkāra/māna) that obstructs grace.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only outer ritual but inner alignment—approaching Saguna Shiva with a softened ego. The verse models the devotee’s stance before Shiva: repentance, humility, and readiness to be corrected, which makes worship fruitful.
A practical takeaway is a brief prāyaścitta-bhāva: sit calmly (sattva), confess one’s fault mentally before Shiva, repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with humility, and resolve to abandon pride; optionally conclude with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and a forgiveness prayer.