Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं शशिमौलिनः । गाणपत्यं ददौ प्रीत्या यथा बाणासुराय वै

Transliteration

idānīṃ śrotumicchāmi caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | gāṇapatyaṃ dadau prītyā yathā bāṇāsurāya vai

Translation

اب میں ششی‌مَولی پروردگار (شیو) کا پاکیزہ حال سننا چاہتا ہوں—کہ انہوں نے خوشنودی سے بाणاسُر کو گाणپتیہ کا مرتبہ کیسے عطا فرمایا۔

Word by Word

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive (भावे), ‘to hear’

• icchāmi: I wish/desire
• icchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• caritam: the story/deeds
• caritam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: carita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √car (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त used as noun ‘deed/story’

• śaśi-maulinaḥ: of the moon-crested (Śiva)
• śaśi-maulinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक) + maulin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास: ‘शशिः मौलौ यस्य’ (one who has the moon as crest); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• gāṇapatyam: the status/office of Gaṇapati
• gāṇapatyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāṇapatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• prītyā: out of affection
• prītyā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• yathā: as/how
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, comparative/relative adverb (यथार्थ/प्रकारवाचक)

• bāṇa-asurāya: to Bāṇāsura
• bāṇa-asurāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (नामविशेषण: ‘बाणः असुरः’); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (निश्चयार्थ/एवकारार्थ)

Speaker

A sage in the Naimiṣāraṇya assembly addressing Sūta Gosvāmin (inferred frame of the Purāṇa narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bāṇāsura

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): even a powerful asura can receive elevation through sincere connection to the Lord, showing that divine compassion can transform status and destiny when devotion or surrender arises.

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

By calling Śiva “Śaśimaulin” (Moon-crested), the verse points to Saguna Śiva—His personal, symbol-rich form worshipped through liṅga-pūjā and devotion—through which devotees understand His accessible grace and protective lordship over the gaṇas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhakti-centered remembrance of Śiva’s compassionate form (dhyāna on Śaśimaulin) along with simple liṅga worship and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating receptivity to anugraha.