Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 2

गणेश-वाक्यं तथा गणानां समर-सन्नाहः | Gaṇeśa’s Challenge and the Mustering of the Gaṇas

Devanagari script

गणेशोऽपि तथा दृष्ट्वा ह्यायातान्गणसत्तमान् । युद्धाऽऽटोपं विधायैव स्थितांश्चैवाब्रवीदिदम्

Transliteration

gaṇeśo'pi tathā dṛṣṭvā hyāyātāngaṇasattamān | yuddhā''ṭopaṃ vidhāyaiva sthitāṃścaivābravīdidam

Translation

象头神伽内沙亦然，见湿婆最上等的众伽那前来，立刻摆出备战之势；他稳立不动，对他们说道如下之言。

Word by Word

• गणेशः: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (particle: ‘also/even’)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘thus/in that manner’)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

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

• आयातान्: arrived
• आयातान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + या (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘arrived’

• गण-सत्तमान्: the best of the gaṇas
• गण-सत्तमान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘best among the gaṇas’

• युद्ध-आटोपं: battle-preparation
• युद्ध-आटोपं: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आटोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘martial display/preparation for battle’

• विधाय: having arranged
• विधाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग) + क्त्वा (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-भाव)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having done/arranged’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (particle: ‘indeed/only’)

• स्थितान्: those standing
• स्थितान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘standing/remaining’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘this (speech)’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the episode; the direct speech is by Gaṇeśa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha
• Shiva's Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows vigilant steadfastness (dhairya) in the face of confrontation: even a revered deity like Gaṇeśa adopts disciplined readiness, implying that devotion to Shiva is expressed through alert, dharmic action—not passivity.

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s personal realm (saguṇa) through His gaṇas and divine attendants; devotion to the Liṅga is not separate from honoring Shiva’s order and cosmic governance manifested through His retinue and commands.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness and readiness of mind: one may cultivate this through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with focused posture, and by maintaining Śaiva discipline (such as tripuṇḍra/bhasma and restrained conduct) before undertaking challenging duties.