Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”

Devanagari script

आवां हरगणौ विप्र तवागस्कारिणौ मुने । स्वयम्बरे राजपुत्र्या मायामोहितचेतसा

Transliteration

āvāṃ haragaṇau vipra tavāgaskāriṇau mune | svayambare rājaputryā māyāmohitacetasā

Translation

Hỡi bà-la-môn, hỡi bậc hiền triết—chúng ta là hai tùy tùng (Hara-gaṇa) của Hara (Śiva), đến đây để phụng sự theo ý nguyện của ngài. Trong lễ svayaṃvara của công chúa, tâm nàng đã bị Māyā làm cho mê hoặc.

Word by Word

• आवाम्: we two
• आवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• हर-गणौ: the two attendants of Hara
• हर-गणौ: Karta (कर्ता) / Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘हरस्य गणौ’

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• अगः-कारिणौ: doers of offense/sin
• अगः-कारिणौ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगस्/अघ (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘अगसः/अघस्य कारिणौ’ (doers of sin/offense)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• स्वयम्बरे: at the svayaṃvara
• स्वयम्बरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (location/occasion)

• राज-पुत्र्या: by the king’s daughter
• राज-पुत्र्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘राज्ञः पुत्र्या’ (by the king’s daughter)

• माया-मोहित-चेतसा: with a mind deluded by illusion
• माया-मोहित-चेतसा: Karaṇa (करण) (manner/instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + मोहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (चेतस्), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘मायया मोहितं चेतः यस्य’ (instrumental: with a mind deluded by illusion)

Speaker

Shiva’s gaṇas (attendants of Hara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Hara)
• Shiva’s Ganas
• Princess (Rājaputrī)

FAQs

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

It highlights Māyā as a dependent power under Lord Śiva (Pati) that can cloud the mind, reminding devotees that worldly decisions become steady only when aligned with Śiva’s grace and dharma.

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

By naming Hara and His gaṇas, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s active governance of the world—devotees approach Śiva (often via the Liṅga) for clarity, protection, and the removal of Māyā-born confusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a prayer for buddhi-śuddhi (purification of discernment), supported by simple Śiva-upacāras like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.