Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

गणेश-षण्मुखयोः विवाहविचारः / Deliberation on the Marriages of Gaṇeśa and Ṣaṇmukha

Devanagari script

किं कर्तव्यं कथं कार्यो विवाहविधिरेतयोः । इति निश्चित्य ताभ्यां वै युक्तिश्च रचिताद्भुता

Transliteration

kiṃ kartavyaṃ kathaṃ kāryo vivāhavidhiretayoḥ | iti niścitya tābhyāṃ vai yuktiśca racitādbhutā

Translation

二者决断道：“当作何事？又当如何为此二者举行婚礼之仪？”既已定夺，他们确实筹划出一条殊妙奇策。

Word by Word

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म; implied object ‘what’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Karma (कर्म; what is to be done)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be done’

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• कार्यः: should be done
• कार्यः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective of विधिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘to be done/should be performed’ (agreeing with विधिः)

• विवाहविधिः: the marriage rite/procedure
• विवाहविधिः: Karta (कर्ता; subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विवाहस्य विधिः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एतयोः: of these two
• एतयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (common), षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• निश्चित्य: having decided
• निश्चित्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-चित् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from नि√चित् ‘to decide’, अव्ययभाव; ‘having decided’

• ताभ्याम्: by those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karta (कर्ता; agent-instrumental ‘by them two’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री, तृतीया (3rd/करण), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• युक्तिः: a plan/strategy
• युक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; connective)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• रचिता: was devised/created
• रचिता: Karta (कर्ता; predicate of युक्तिः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) ‘रचित’, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (युक्तिः)

• अद्भुता: wonderful
• अद्भुता: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of युक्तिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

The verse highlights dharmic discernment (niścaya) before action: even in worldly rites like marriage, the righteous course is chosen thoughtfully, showing that orderly conduct aligned with dharma supports harmony and auspiciousness under Shiva’s cosmic governance.

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

Though not explicitly mentioning Linga worship, it reflects Saguna Shiva’s realm where divine events unfold through proper rites and wise planning; such narratives teach devotees that sacred order and intention are integral to living in Shiva’s auspicious presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is sankalpa with clarity—determine the right procedure before performing any rite; devotees may pair this with a brief Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to steady intention prior to ceremonies.