Shloka 15

सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct

Prelude to Detailed Narrative

Devanagari script

नमस्कृत्य महेशानं हर्यादिसुरसेवितम् । परब्रह्म प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्चरित्रं महाद्भुतम्

Transliteration

namaskṛtya maheśānaṃ haryādisurasevitam | parabrahma pravakṣyāmi taccaritraṃ mahādbhutam

Translation

Nachdem ich mich vor Maheśāna verneigt habe — dem von Hari (Viṣṇu) und den übrigen Göttern Verehrten und Bedienten — werde ich nun das Parabrahman verkünden und seine höchst wunderbare göttliche Geschichte.

Word by Word

• नमस्कृत्य: having saluted
• नमस्कृत्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस्+√कृ (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having saluted'

• महेशानम्: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of salutation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ('great lord'); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरि-आदि-सुर-सेवितम्: served by the gods beginning with Hari
• हरि-आदि-सुर-सेवितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + आदि + सुर + सेवित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √सेव् + क्त)
• Form: समास: हर्यादि (Tatpurusha: 'Hari and others') + सुर (Tatpurusha) + सेवित (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of महेशानम्

• परब्रह्म: O Supreme Brahman
• परब्रह्म: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ('supreme Brahman'); सम्बोधन (Vocative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall narrate
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; modifies चरित्रम्

• चरित्रम्: story/deeds
• चरित्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित्र (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √चर् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महा-अद्भुतम्: very wonderful
• महा-अद्भुतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय ('greatly wonderful'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies चरित्रम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, as typical in Purāṇic discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमस्कृत्य महेशानं हर्यादिसुरसेवितम् । परब्रह्म प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्चरित्रं महाद्भुतम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva (Maheśāna) as Parabrahman—the supreme Lord (Pati) revered even by Viṣṇu and the devas—and frames the narration as śāstra delivered after humble salutation, implying that true knowledge begins with devotion and surrender.

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

Though it names Śiva as Parabrahman (transcendent), it also presents Him as Maheśāna who is worshipped—supporting Shaiva practice where the Nirguṇa truth is approached through Saguna devotion, commonly via Liṅga-upāsanā and stuti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate takeaway is namaskāra (prostration) and remembrance of Maheśāna before study or recitation; practitioners may begin with a simple bow, mental japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and a brief invocation to align the mind for hearing Śiva-kathā.