Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

गाणपत्यदानकथा

Bāṇāsura Receives Gaṇapatya; Genealogical Prelude

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मपुत्रो मरीचिर्यो मुनिरासीन्महामतिः । मानसस्सर्वपुत्रेषु ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

brahmaputro marīciryo munirāsīnmahāmatiḥ | mānasassarvaputreṣu jyeṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

梵天之子摩利支（Marīci）乃大慧仙人；在一切意生诸子之中，他为长子，亦为最殊胜的生主（Prajāpati）。

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मपुत्रः: son of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मपुत्रः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः)

• मरीचिः: Marīci
• मरीचिः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामतिः: great-minded, very wise
• महामतिः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेष्य-विशेषणभावे; समासः—कर्मधारयः (महान् मतिः यस्य/महती मतिः)

• मानसः: mind-born
• मानसः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (मानसः = मनसः जातः/मानसपुत्रः)

• सर्वपुत्रेषु: among all sons
• सर्वपुत्रेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वे पुत्राः)

• ज्येष्ठः: eldest
• ज्येष्ठः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्रेष्ठः: best, excellent
• श्रेष्ठः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati (lord of creatures)
• प्रजापतिः: कर्ता (Kartā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां पतिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Marichi
• Prajapati

FAQs

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

It establishes the cosmic hierarchy of Brahmā’s mind-born progenitors, showing how ordered creation proceeds through qualified sages—yet, in Shaiva understanding, all such creative powers ultimately function under the supreme Lord (Pati), Śiva.

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

By describing Prajāpatis as agents of creation, the verse indirectly points to the higher source of all agency; Linga-worship centers the devotee on Śiva as the transcendent ground (Nirguṇa) who is also approachable as Saguna through form and ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate sattvic intellect (mahāmati) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supporting clarity and humility before the supreme Lord who empowers all cosmic roles.