Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

द्वारपाल-गणेशसंवादः / The Dialogue at the Gate: Gaṇeśa and Śiva’s Gaṇas

Devanagari script

बद्धकक्षस्तथोष्णीषं बद्ध्वा जंघोरु संस्पृशन् । उवाच तान्गणान् सर्वान्निर्भयं वचनं मुदा

Transliteration

baddhakakṣastathoṣṇīṣaṃ baddhvā jaṃghoru saṃspṛśan | uvāca tāngaṇān sarvānnirbhayaṃ vacanaṃ mudā

Translation

他束紧腰布，系好头巾，又触及小腿与大腿以示整装待发，遂欢喜无畏地向一切伽那众宣说言辞。

Word by Word

• बद्धकक्षः: with waist fastened
• बद्धकक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध + कक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘बद्धा कक्षा यस्य सः’ (one whose waist-cloth/waist is fastened)

• तथा: also/thus
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus/also)

• उष्णीषम्: turban/headgear
• उष्णीषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्णीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बद्ध्वा: having tied/bound
• बद्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: बन्ध् (to bind)

• जङ्घा: shin/leg
• जङ्घा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद-सम्बन्धे; ‘जङ्घा-ऊरू’ इत्यर्थे)

• ऊरू: thigh
• ऊरू: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संस्पृशन्: touching
• संस्पृशन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि कृदन्त (Present Active Participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘touching’

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Accusative)

• गणान्: attendants/gaṇas
• गणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (गणान्)

• निर्भयम्: fearless
• निर्भयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (वचनम्)

• वचनम्: speech/statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (with joy)

Speaker

Kumāra (Kārttikeya/Skanda)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Characters & Entities

• Ganas

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva ideal of nirbhayatā—fearlessness born from alignment with Shiva’s will—where disciplined readiness and joyful resolve become instruments of dharma.

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

Skanda’s fearless command to the gaṇas reflects service to Saguna Shiva’s cosmic order: devotion expresses itself as loyal participation in Shiva’s mission, not merely as inward sentiment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness and readiness: begin japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a composed posture and firm resolve, cultivating inner fearlessness (nirbhaya-bhāva) before undertaking dharmic action.