Shloka 93

Paramātma-Svarūpa-Nirṇaya: Strī–Puṃ–Napuṃsaka-Vicāra

Inquiry into the Supreme Self and Gendered Forms

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । श्रुत्वैवं मुनिना पृष्टं वचो वेदान्तनिर्वृतम् । रहस्यं प्रभुराहेदं किंचित्प्रहसिताननः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | śrutvaivaṃ muninā pṛṣṭaṃ vaco vedāntanirvṛtam | rahasyaṃ prabhurāhedaṃ kiṃcitprahasitānanaḥ

Translation

Sūta sprach: Nachdem er so die Frage des Weisen vernommen hatte — Worte, von vedantischer Gelassenheit durchdrungen —, sprach der Herr mit sanft lächelndem Antlitz diese geheime Lehre.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; धातु-श्रु = having heard

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karta (कर्ता in passive / Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• पृष्टम्: asked
• पृष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘asked’

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वेदान्तनिर्वृतम्: established in Vedānta
• वेदान्तनिर्वृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्त + निर्वृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘वेदान्तेन निर्वृतम्’ (grounded in/derived from Vedānta); ‘निर्वृत’ = satisfied/settled/established (P.P.P. of निर्+वृ/वृत्)

• रहस्यम्: secret (teaching)
• रहस्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रहस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘said’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• किञ्चित्: slightly / a little
• किञ्चित्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; अल्पपरिमाणवाचक (indefinite: a little/somewhat)

• प्रहसिताननः: whose face was smiling
• प्रहसिताननः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहसित + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘प्रहसितम् आननं यस्य सः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It marks the transition into a confidential (rahasya) instruction: when a seeker’s inquiry is mature and rooted in higher understanding, Shiva reveals liberating knowledge with grace, not harshness—symbolized by His gentle smile.

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

Even when the teaching is philosophical and ‘Vedāntic,’ it is delivered by the personal Lord (Prabhu/Śiva). This reflects the Shiva Purana’s harmony of Saguna devotion (approaching Shiva as the gracious Teacher) with the highest truth that grants inner freedom.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies eligibility through contemplative inquiry and reverent listening (śravaṇa). A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a calm mind, preparing one to receive and internalize Shiva’s ‘secret’ instruction.