Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 5

गणेशोत्पत्ति-प्रसङ्गः / Episode on the Origin of Gaṇeśa (Śvetakalpa Account)

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । कल्पभेदाद्गणेशस्य जनिः प्रोक्ता विधेः परात् । शनिदृष्टं शिरश्छिन्नं संचितं गजमाननम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | kalpabhedādgaṇeśasya janiḥ proktā vidheḥ parāt | śanidṛṣṭaṃ śiraśchinnaṃ saṃcitaṃ gajamānanam

Translation

梵天说：“由于诸劫（kalpa）各有差别，伽内沙的诞生之说便以多种方式宣说，超越常规。当天神沙尼投以目光时，其首被斩落；随后为他聚合成象面之身。”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कल्पभेदात्: due to the difference of a kalpa
• कल्पभेदात्: Hetu/Apādāna (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘कल्पस्य भेदः’

• गणेशस्य: of Gaṇeśa
• गणेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जनिः: birth, origin
• जनिः: Karta (कर्ता/वर्ण्य-विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रोक्ता: has been declared
• प्रोक्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘has been stated’

• विधेः: of the Creator (Brahmā)
• विधेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परात्: from another / differently
• परात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; ‘from/than another, different’

• शनि-दृष्टम्: seen by Śani
• शनि-दृष्टम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शनि + दृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष: ‘शनिना दृष्टम्’

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• छिन्नम्: cut off
• छिन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• संचितम्: collected, assembled
• संचितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + चि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गजमाननम्: elephant-face (elephant head/visage)
• गजमाननम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज + मानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘गज-माननम्’ = ‘गजस्य इव माननम्/मुखम्’ (elephant-faced)

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-bheda (variation across aeons)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Gaṇeśa
• Śani

FAQs

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

It teaches that Purāṇic events may appear in multiple valid versions across kalpas, yet the spiritual essence remains: divine grace can transform loss into auspicious form, and devotees should focus on the purpose of the līlā rather than literal variation.

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

Within Shaiva tradition, Gaṇeśa is honored as Shiva’s attendant and remover of obstacles; remembering this līlā supports Saguna-bhakti—approaching Shiva’s household (Śiva-Umā-Gaṇeśa) with reverence before Linga worship and mantra-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with Gaṇeśa-smaraṇa and then perform Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a calm mind, seeking auspiciousness and obstacle-removal.