Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

ज्येष्ठायाः प्रथमौ पुत्रौ दितेश्चास्तां महाबलौ । हिरण्यकशिपुर्ज्येष्ठो हिरण्याक्षोऽनुजस्ततः

Transliteration

jyeṣṭhāyāḥ prathamau putrau diteścāstāṃ mahābalau | hiraṇyakaśipurjyeṣṭho hiraṇyākṣo'nujastataḥ

Translation

从长妻底提那里，最先诞生了两位大力之子：长子为希兰尼亚迦湿布（Hiraṇyakaśipu），其后幼子为希兰尼亚阿叉（Hiraṇyākṣa）。

Word by Word

• ज्येष्ठायाः: of Jyeṣṭhā (the elder)
• ज्येष्ठायाः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; 'of the elder (wife)'

• प्रथमौ: the first (two)
• प्रथमौ: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• पुत्रौ: two sons
• पुत्रौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• दितेः: of Diti
• दितेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आस्ताम्: were (the two were)
• आस्ताम्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्; 'let them be/they were' (contextually past narration)

• महाबलौ: very strong
• महाबलौ: विशेषण (Adjectival modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक: महा + बल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् बलः यस्य)

• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Hiraṇyakaśipu
• हिरण्यकशिपुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यकशिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हिरण्यस्य कशिपुः)

• ज्येष्ठः: the elder
• ज्येष्ठः: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• हिरण्याक्षः: Hiraṇyākṣa
• हिरण्याक्षः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्याक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हिरण्यं अक्षि यस्य/हिरण्य-अक्षः)

• अनुजः: younger (brother)
• अनुजः: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तर-अर्थे (adverb: thereafter/then)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Diti
• Hiranyakashipu
• Hiranyaksha

FAQs

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

This verse sets up the asuric lineage—great strength without devotion—highlighting a Shaiva Siddhanta theme: power (śakti) becomes bondage when ruled by ego (ahaṅkāra) rather than surrendered to Pati (Śiva), the Lord who grants liberation.

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

By introducing figures known for pride and domination, the text implicitly contrasts them with the devotee’s path: approaching Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga with humility, worship, and right orientation of will—so strength turns into dharma rather than conflict.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter ‘asuric’ tendencies through steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) remembrance, cultivating surrender and self-restraint alongside any worldly capability.