Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

विनयः क्रियते चेद्वै वश्यश्शंभुः स्त्रिया सदा । इति ख्यातिर्भवेल्लोके गर्हिता मे गणा धुवम्

Transliteration

vinayaḥ kriyate cedvai vaśyaśśaṃbhuḥ striyā sadā | iti khyātirbhavelloke garhitā me gaṇā dhuvam

Translation

若我示以谦让，世间便会恒常传言：圣主商婆（Śambhu）竟“受一女子所制”。如此一来，我的诸伽那必遭讥责无疑。

Word by Word

• विनयः: humility, submission
• विनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• क्रियते: is done/is performed
• क्रियते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Condition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक अव्यय (conditional particle)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• वश्यः: submissive, under control
• वश्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicative complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्य

• स्त्रिया: by a woman
• स्त्रिया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ख्यातिः: fame, report
• ख्यातिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be/arise
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• गर्हिता: censured, blameworthy
• गर्हिता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicative complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्हित (कृदन्त; गर्ह् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (ख्यातिः)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गणाः: attendants, gaṇas
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् अव्ययीभूत (adverbial accusative used as indeclinable)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śambhu), inferred within the Kumārakhaṇḍa narrative context

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the tension between worldly perception (loka-khyāti) and divine intention: even when Śiva is supremely free (Pati), he considers the social ripple-effects on his gaṇas, modeling responsible conduct while remaining inwardly unattached.

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

In Saguna worship, devotees relate to Śiva through personal leelas and relationships; this verse shows Śiva engaging with worldly roles while never losing his transcendence—encouraging devotees to see the Linga as the stable, nirvikāra reality behind changing narratives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate vinaya (humility) while anchoring the mind in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” so actions are guided by dharma rather than fear of public opinion.