Shloka 6

अत्रीश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनम् (Atrīśvara-māhātmya-varṇanam) — “Account of the Greatness of Atrīśvara”

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच । तद्वचश्च तदा श्रुत्वा ऋषिपत्नी तपस्विनी । प्रत्युवाच वचः प्रीत्या स्वयं सुचकिता द्विजाः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca | tadvacaśca tadā śrutvā ṛṣipatnī tapasvinī | pratyuvāca vacaḥ prītyā svayaṃ sucakitā dvijāḥ

Translation

Sūta said: Having then heard those words, the ascetic wife of the sage—herself startled—replied with affection, addressing the twice-born (brahmins).

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेष्य-संबन्ध (that)

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

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• ऋषि-पत्नी: the sage's wife
• ऋषि-पत्नी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ऋषेः पत्नी)

• तपस्विनी: ascetic
• तपस्विनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः प्रति+उद्

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

• प्रीत्या: with love
• प्रीत्या: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधन-भाव (with affection)

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: Karta-nirdeshaka (कर्तृनिर्देशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः-प्रयोग (by oneself)

• सुचकिता: startled
• सुचकिता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुचकित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (frightened/astonished)

• द्विजाः: O brāhmaṇas / twice-born
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana/Anukta-karta (सम्बोधन/अनुक्तकर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Rishipatni
• Dvija (sages/brahmins)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śravaṇa (reverent listening) and the transforming power of sacred dialogue: hearing dharmic words awakens the heart, and a devotee responds with prīti (loving receptivity), which is foundational to Shaiva bhakti and inward purification.

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

Kotirudra Samhita commonly unfolds Jyotirlinga-related teachings through respectful conversation; this verse marks the moment when a pious speaker responds after hearing, highlighting that devotion to Saguna Shiva (Linga worship) is sustained by listening to and repeating Shiva’s glories in satsanga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined śravaṇa-kīrtana: listen to Shiva-kathā, then respond by recitation or japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a calm, affectionate mind.