Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति प्रोच्यामरास्सर्वे विष्ण्वाद्याः प्रेमसंकुलाः । मौनमास्थाय संतस्थुर्भक्तिनम्रा त्ममूर्तयः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti procyāmarāssarve viṣṇvādyāḥ premasaṃkulāḥ | maunamāsthāya saṃtasthurbhaktinamrā tmamūrtayaḥ

Translation

Brahmā sprach: Nachdem sie so gesprochen hatten, verharrten alle Götter—allen voran Viṣṇu—von liebender Hingabe erfüllt, in Schweigen und standen gesammelt da, ihr ganzes Wesen in Bhakti geneigt.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• प्रोच्य: having spoken
• प्रोच्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive) from causative/strengthened usage ‘having spoken/declared’

• अमराः: the gods
• अमराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• विष्ण्वाद्याः: beginning with Viṣṇu
• विष्ण्वाद्याः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विष्णुः आदिः येषाम् = beginning with Viṣṇu)

• प्रेमसंकुलाः: filled with love
• प्रेमसंकुलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रेमन् + संकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रेम्णा संकुलाः = filled with love)

• मौनम्: silence
• मौनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having assumed
• आस्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having resorted to/assuming’

• संतस्थुः: stood / remained
• संतस्थुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भक्तिनम्राः: humbled by devotion
• भक्तिनम्राः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + नम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भक्त्या नम्राः = bowed with devotion)

• आत्ममूर्तयः: (their) very persons/forms
• आत्ममूर्तयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः मूर्तयः = their very forms/persons)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Devas’ collective mauna signifies contemplative absorption after divine speech—an inward turn from discourse to reverent stillness.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the highest devas respond to sacred instruction by entering mauna and humility—showing that bhakti is perfected not by argument but by reverent stillness and inner assent before the Supreme (Śiva as Pati).

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

The devas’ silence and bowed hearts mirror the proper attitude in Saguna worship—standing before the Liṅga with reverence, letting devotion mature into inward steadiness rather than outward display.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mauna (vow of silence) combined with bhakti: a short period of silent japa or contemplation—such as mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a bowed, surrendered attitude.