Shloka 10

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । इति श्रुत्वाथ शैलादिर्विधिपुत्रवचश्शुभम् । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | iti śrutvātha śailādirvidhiputravacaśśubham | pratyuvāca prasannātmā smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Translation

Sūta sprach: Als Śailādi die glückverheißenden Worte des Sohnes Brahmās vernahm, wurde sein Herz heiter; er gedachte der lotosgleichen Füße des Herrn Śiva und erwiderte darauf.

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, 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: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (thus)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then)

• शैलादिः: Śailādi (Himālaya)
• शैलादिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैल + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘शैलः आदि यस्य’/‘शैलादिः’ (the mountain-lord, i.e., Himālaya)

• विधिपुत्रवचः: the words of the son of Vidhi (Brahmā)
• विधिपुत्रवचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि + पुत्र + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘विधेः पुत्रस्य वचः’ (the words of Brahmā’s son)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वचः’)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रसन्नात्मा: with a serene heart
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to शैलादिः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसन्न + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य’ (one whose mind/self is pleased)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus feet
• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पद + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम्’ (Śiva’s lotus-feet)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Smaraṇa of Śiva’s lotus-feet (pādāmbuja) is presented as a direct purifier of the mind (prasannātmā), a prerequisite for receiving Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and for right response (pratyuvāca) in dharmic dialogue.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

The verse highlights smaraṇa—remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet—as a purifying inner act that makes the mind serene and fit for righteous speech and action, aligning the soul (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet is a form of saguna-bhakti (devotion to Śiva with attributes). In practice it complements Liṅga-worship by establishing inward recollection (mānasa-pūjā) before outward ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is to begin any worship or important speech with mental remembrance of Śiva—optionally japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—to steady the mind and invoke auspiciousness.