Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 47

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

सनकादिमहासिद्धैस्सप्रजापतिभिस्सुतैः । परिवारैस्संयुतो हि शिवसेवनतत्परः

Transliteration

sanakādimahāsiddhaissaprajāpatibhissutaiḥ | parivāraissaṃyuto hi śivasevanatatparaḥ

Translation

他与以萨那迦（Sanaka）为首的诸大成就者同来，又与诸生主（Prajāpati）及其诸子偕行，并为各自眷属所环绕；他确然全心致力于侍奉与礼敬湿婆大自在天。

Word by Word

• सनकादिमहासिद्धैः: with the great siddhas such as Sanaka
• सनकादिमहासिद्धैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनकादि (प्रातिपदिक) + महासिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: सनकादयः ये महासिद्धाः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• सप्रजापतिभिः: together with the Prajāpatis
• सप्रजापतिभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (सह) + प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (प्रजापतिभिः सह); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• सुतैः: with (their) sons
• सुतैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• परिवारैः: with retinues
• परिवारैः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन

• संयुतः: joined/attended (accompanied)
• संयुतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past participle, passive sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate adjective

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis)

• शिवसेवनतत्परः: devoted to serving Śiva
• शिवसेवनतत्परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य सेवनं तस्मिन् तत्परः / शिवसेवने तत्परः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; predicate adjective

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanaka
• Prajapatis

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva-sevā (devoted service and worship of Śiva) as the highest orientation of even exalted beings—siddhas, Prajāpatis, and their lineages—implying that liberation is rooted in humble devotion to Pati (Śiva) rather than mere status or power.

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

The verse highlights “śivasevana”—practical, personal worship—typically expressed in the Purāṇa through saguna upāsanā such as Liṅga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and attendance upon Śiva’s manifestations, which purify the soul and mature it toward realizing Śiva’s supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steady Śiva-sevā: daily Liṅga worship with mantra-japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with purity-observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate, performed with devotion.