Shloka 20

व्यासशौनकादिसंवादः | Vyāsa–Śaunaka and the Sages: Opening Dialogue of the Kailāsa-saṃhitā

Devanagari script

इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा सूतो व्यासप्रियस्सुधीः । गणेशं षण्मुखं साक्षान्महेशानं महेश्वरीम्

Transliteration

iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā sūto vyāsapriyassudhīḥ | gaṇeśaṃ ṣaṇmukhaṃ sākṣānmaheśānaṃ maheśvarīm

Translation

Having thus heard the words of those sages, Sūta—wise and dear to Vyāsa—first bowed in reverence to Gaṇeśa and to Ṣaṇmukha, and then to Maheśāna (Lord Śiva) Himself and to Maheśvarī (Goddess Pārvatī).

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक particle (quotative/thus)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

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

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-Viseshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal); ‘having heard’

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

• व्यासप्रियः: dear to Vyāsa
• व्यासप्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यास + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘व्यासस्य प्रियः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of सूतः)

• सुधीः: wise
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive): ‘सु-धीः’ = good/intelligent-minded; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषण (of सूतः)

• गणेशम्: Gaṇeśa
• गणेशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• षण्मुखम्: Ṣaṇmukha (six-faced one)
• षण्मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical): ‘षण्णां मुखानां समाहारः/यस्य सः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly/in person
• साक्षात्: Kriya-Viseshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘directly/in person’

• महेशानम्: Maheśāna (Śiva)
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• महेश्वरीम्: Maheśvarī (Pārvatī)
• महेश्वरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models proper śāstric narration: begin with maṅgalācaraṇa and namaskāra to Gaṇeśa, Skanda, Śiva, and Devī—seen as removing obstacles and aligning the listener with auspiciousness.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Vyasa
• Ganesha
• Shanmukha (Kartikeya)
• Shiva (Maheshana)
• Parvati (Maheshvari)

FAQs

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

It establishes auspiciousness and right transmission: the narrator (Sūta) begins by honoring Śiva with Śakti, along with Gaṇeśa and Ṣaṇmukha, indicating that the Purāṇic teaching is approached through reverence, purity of intent, and devotion (bhakti) to the Shaiva divine family.

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

By saluting Mahēśāna “directly” (sākṣāt), the verse foregrounds Saguna worship—approaching Śiva as the personal Lord—an entry point that, in Shaiva Siddhanta, matures into deeper understanding of Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who grants grace leading toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin recitation, study, or pūjā with an invocation (āvāhana/namaskāra) to Gaṇeśa and then to Śiva with Pārvatī; mentally offer salutations before mantra-japa or Purāṇa-śravaṇa to remove obstacles and steady devotion.