Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

मङ्गलाचरणम्, तीर्थ-परिसरः, सूतागमनम् — Invocation, Sacred Setting, and the Arrival of Sūta

Devanagari script

उत्तरोत्तरवक्ता च ब्रुवतो ऽपि बृहस्पतेः । मधुरः श्रवणानां च मनोज्ञपदपर्वणाम्

Transliteration

uttarottaravaktā ca bruvato 'pi bṛhaspateḥ | madhuraḥ śravaṇānāṃ ca manojñapadaparvaṇām

Translation

حتى حين كان بْرِهَسْبَتِي يتكلم، كان الراوي اللاحق أفصحَ وأبلغَ منه؛ وكان الحديث عذبًا للسمع، بألفاظٍ وتراكيبَ منتقاة تُبهج القلب وتسرّ الخاطر.

Word by Word

• uttarottara-vaktā: a speaker who is better and better (in successive parts)
• uttarottara-vaktā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttarottara (प्रातिपदिक) + vaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• bruvataḥ: of (him) speaking
• bruvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brū (धातु) → bruvat (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘speaking’ (genitive: of the one speaking)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = ‘even/also’ (particle)

• bṛhaspateḥ: of Bṛhaspati
• bṛhaspateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhaspati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• madhuraḥ: sweet/pleasant
• madhuraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• śravaṇānām: of the ears (for hearing)
• śravaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• manojña-pada-parvaṇām: of the pleasing word-sections/phrases
• manojña-pada-parvaṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manojña (प्रातिपदिक) + pada (प्रातिपदिक) + parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पदानां पर्वाणि = ‘sections/steps of words’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brihaspati

FAQs

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

It praises śravaṇa (devout listening) and the refined transmission of sacred teaching—showing that when the narration is clear, well-phrased, and heartfelt, it becomes a vehicle for grace and inner transformation toward Shiva-realization.

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

While it does not name the Liṅga directly, it establishes the devotional method of approaching Saguna Shiva through scripture: hearing the Lord’s glories and doctrines in an attractive, intelligible form supports bhakti and steadies the mind for worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana in satsanga—listening with attention and reverence—followed by quiet reflection (manana). This complements mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya), though the verse itself emphasizes listening.