Shloka 32

Śiva–Hari–Rudra–Vidhīnāṃ Tattva-nirṇayaḥ

Identity of Śiva, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and Brahmā; Nirguṇa–Saguṇa Reconciliation

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच । एतदाकर्ण्य वचनं सूतः पौराणिकोत्तमः । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजं मुनींस्तानब्रवीद्वचः

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca | etadākarṇya vacanaṃ sūtaḥ paurāṇikottamaḥ | smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojaṃ munīṃstānabravīdvacaḥ

Translation

Vyāsa said: Hearing these words, Sūta—the foremost among the Purāṇic narrators—remembered the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva, and then spoke his words to those sages.

Word by Word

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-कर्ण् (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• वचनम्: speech/statement
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• पौराणिकोत्तमः: the best of the Purāṇa-knowers
• पौराणिकोत्तमः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौराणिक + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः पौराणिकः)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Pūrvakāla/Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• शिवपदाम्भोजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिवपदाम्भोजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पद + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य पदाम्भोजम् = Śiva’s lotus-feet)

• मुनीन्: the sages
• मुनीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• तान्: those
• तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अब्रवीत्: spoke/told
• अब्रवीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Vyasa

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Suta
• Vyasa
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

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

It establishes the Shaiva principle that sacred teaching becomes fruitful when begun with bhakti—remembering Śiva’s lotus-feet—so the narration proceeds under the grace of Pati (Śiva), benefitting the listeners (the sages).

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

By invoking “Śiva’s lotus-feet,” the verse emphasizes saguna-upāsanā (devotional contemplation of Śiva with attributes), which in Purāṇic practice naturally includes reverence to the Śiva-liṅga and pilgrimage themes central to the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin study or kathā with śiva-smaraṇa—mentally bowing to Śiva’s feet—optionally paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to sanctify speech and hearing.