Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas
गृहीतपरिघं दृष्ट्वा तं गणेशं महाबलम् । पलायनपरो यातस्त्वहं द्रुततरं तदा
gṛhītaparighaṃ dṛṣṭvā taṃ gaṇeśaṃ mahābalam | palāyanaparo yātastvahaṃ drutataraṃ tadā
Thấy Gaṇeśa hùng mạnh cầm cây chùy sắt nặng nề ấy, bấy giờ tôi chỉ còn một lòng tháo chạy và vội vã lao đi nhanh hơn nữa.
Kartikeya (Skanda), narrating his encounter in the Kumārakhaṇḍa context as relayed by Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
FAQs
It highlights humility before divine power: when confronted with Gaṇeśa’s irresistible strength, the narrator abandons pride and chooses retreat—symbolizing the Shaiva teaching that ego yields before the Lord’s appointed protectors and dharma.
Gaṇeśa functions as Shiva’s saguna grace in action—an embodied guardian of order. The episode supports the Purāṇic practice of approaching Shiva’s worship with reverence and removing impediments through devotion to Shiva’s gaṇas, especially Gaṇeśa.
A practical takeaway is to begin Shiva-pūjā with Gaṇeśa remembrance and the Panchākṣarī spirit of surrender—mentally offering obstacles and ego at the Lord’s feet (e.g., invoking “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steadiness and humility).