Shloka 41

व्यासशौनकादिसंवादः | Vyāsa–Śaunaka and the Sages: Opening Dialogue of the Kailāsa-saṃhitā

Devanagari script

श्रोतव्यः परमेशान इति कृत्वा विनिश्चिताः । परस्परं चिन्तयन्तः परं भावं महेशितु

Transliteration

śrotavyaḥ parameśāna iti kṛtvā viniścitāḥ | parasparaṃ cintayantaḥ paraṃ bhāvaṃ maheśitu

Translation

وبعد أن حسموا الأمر بثبات قائلين: «لا بدّ من الإصغاء إلى باراميشانا (Parameśāna)، الربّ الأعلى»، أخذوا يتأمّلون معًا، متفكّرين بعضهم مع بعض في المقام الأسمى وفي القصد الباطن لماهاديفا.

Word by Word

• श्रोतव्यः: to be listened to / should be heard
• श्रोतव्यः: Karma (कर्म) — ‘to be heard’ (intended object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• परमेशान: O Supreme Lord (Parameśāna)
• परमेशान: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (परमः ईशानः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Avyaya (अव्यय) — quotation marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्य-समाप्ति सूचक (quotative particle)

• कृत्वा: having done / having considered
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having done)

• विनिश्चिताः: determined / decided
• विनिश्चिताः: Karta (कर्ता) — as predicate of implied ‘they’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + नि + √चि (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘determined/decided’

• परस्परम्: mutually / among themselves
• परस्परम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; परस्पर-भावे (reciprocally)

• चिन्तयन्तः: thinking / reflecting
• चिन्तयन्तः: Karta (कर्ता) — ‘they, thinking’
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी-भाव

• परम्: supreme / highest
• परम्: Karma (कर्म) — qualifies ‘bhāvaṃ’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भावम्: state / nature / disposition
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• महेशितुः: of the Great Lord (Maheśa)
• महेशितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; ‘of Maheśitṛ (the Great Lord)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Elevates śravaṇa (hearing) of Parameśāna as a direct means to grasp ‘parama-bhāva’—a hallmark of guru-centered grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śravaṇa (reverent listening) as the first gateway to grace—turning the mind toward Pati (Śiva) and contemplating His supreme bhāva, which leads the bound soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

By insisting that Parameśāna is “to be heard,” it points to disciplined engagement with Śiva’s teachings and glories—often accessed through Linga-upāsanā and kathā-śravaṇa—so the devotee’s contemplation matures from outer form (saguṇa) toward the highest reality of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śiva-kathā-śravaṇa followed by mutual reflection (manana) and steady contemplation (nididhyāsana) on Mahādeva; this pairs naturally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") during daily worship or Mahāśivarātri observance.