Shloka 36

देवसान्त्वनम् (Devasāntvana) — “Consolation/Reassurance of the Gods”

Devanagari script

अन्यच्छृणुत हे विष्णो हे विधे मुनयः सुराः । महाप्रभोर्महेशस्य लीलां भुवनपालिनीम्

Transliteration

anyacchṛṇuta he viṣṇo he vidhe munayaḥ surāḥ | mahāprabhormaheśasya līlāṃ bhuvanapālinīm

Translation

«اسمعوا خبراً آخر—يا ڤِشنو، يا ڤِدْهاتا (براهما)، يا أيها الحكماء والآلهة—عن لِيلا مهايشا، الربّ العظيم، التي بها يُصان العالَم.»

Word by Word

• अन्यत्: another (thing), something else
• अन्यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मरूपेण (as object)

• शृणुत: hear (you all)
• शृणुत: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हे: O
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• विष्णो: O Vishnu
• विष्णो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• हे: O
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• विधे: O Vidhi (Brahmā)
• विधे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; addressees)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सुराः: gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; addressees)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• महाप्रभोः: of the great lord
• महाप्रभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय: महान् प्रभुः

• महेशस्य: of Mahesha (Shiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• लीलाम्: play, divine sport
• लीलाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लीला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भुवनपालिनीम्: protecting the worlds
• भुवनपालिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुवन-पालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: भुवनं पालयतीति (world-protecting)

Speaker

Brahmā (addressing Viṣṇu, the gods, and sages within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a narrative ‘invocation’ to hear Maheśa’s bhuvana-pālinī līlā—explicitly aligning Śiva with world-sustenance (sthiti), not merely dissolution.

Significance: Encourages śravaṇa (listening) as a devotional act: hearing Śiva-līlā is itself purifying and stabilizing for the mind, mirroring the ‘world-sustaining’ quality of the teaching.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Didactic framing of cosmic governance: Śiva’s līlā is presented as bhuvana-pālana (sustaining the worlds).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse frames Śiva (Maheśa) as the Mahāprabhu whose līlā sustains and protects the worlds, encouraging śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a direct means to deepen bhakti and align with Pati (Śiva) as the supreme guardian.

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

By emphasizing Maheśa’s līlā as bhuvana-pālinī (world-sustaining), it supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva with attributes as protector and lord—commonly expressed through Liṅga-pūjā, where the devotee contemplates Śiva’s grace actively upholding cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice is śravaṇa and manana—listening to Śiva-kathā and reflecting on it—supported by daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and (where traditional) worship with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa to steady devotion to Maheśa.