Shloka 9

Viṣṇoḥ Sahasranāma-stotreṇa Śiva-prasādaḥ

Vishnu’s Thousand-Name Hymn and Shiva’s Grace

Devanagari script

तदा प्राह महादेवः प्रसन्नः प्रहसन्निव । सम्प्रेक्ष्य कृपया विष्णुं कृतांजलिपुटं स्थितम्

Transliteration

tadā prāha mahādevaḥ prasannaḥ prahasanniva | samprekṣya kṛpayā viṣṇuṃ kṛtāṃjalipuṭaṃ sthitam

Translation

Then Mahādeva, pleased and as though gently smiling, looked with compassion upon Viṣṇu who stood there with folded hands, and spoke.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (then)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा+देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक; प्र+सद्-धातोः क्त/निष्पन्नार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रहसन्: laughing
• प्रहसन्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+हस् (धातु) → प्रहसत् (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययः; ‘laughing’

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamā-nipāta (उपमा-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक-निपातः (like/as if)

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having looked at
• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्+प्र+ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भावः (instrumental: with compassion)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटम्: with hands folded in reverence
• कृत-अञ्जलि-पुटम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातोः क्त कृदन्त) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कृतः अञ्जलिपुटः यस्य)

• स्थितम्: standing
• स्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (क्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विष्णुम् इति कर्मपदस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Mahadeva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Dialogue-setting verse; no Jyotirliṅga localization.

Significance: Highlights karuṇā (compassion) as the mode of anugraha: Śiva’s gracious glance and smile precede instruction/boon.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who responds to sincere surrender; Viṣṇu’s folded hands symbolize bhakti and humility, drawing Mahādeva’s grace.

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

Mahādeva appearing pleased and speaking directly reflects Saguna Śiva—approachable and responsive—affirming that reverent devotion (like añjali) is a valid mode of worship leading toward His grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests añjali (folded-hands reverence) with a compassionate remembrance of Śiva; as a simple practice, offer pranāma and mentally repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” in humility.